s flung from his seat, though not much hurt. He rose at
once to his feet. Black Hawk struggled up at the same time, and stood
still, his wet flanks rising and falling as he breathed and panted. He
was not in a condition to gallop farther. But even had he been fresh,
Basil saw that the chase was now at an end. The little hillocks, which
he had just noticed, stood thick upon the prairie, as far as the eye
could reach; and among these the wild horse was gliding off as swiftly
as ever. When the hunter got to his feet again, the other was nearly a
quarter of a mile distant, and at that moment sent back a shrill neigh,
as if triumphing over his escape--for he had escaped beyond a doubt.

Basil saw this with chagrin. He saw that further pursuit was not only
useless, but dangerous; for although he had never seen anything like
these little mounds before, he knew very well what they were, and the
danger of riding at a rapid rate among them. He had received a timely
lesson--for he was just entering their borders when his horse fell--
fortunately to rise again with sound limbs. He knew he might not get
off so safely a second time, and he had no inclination to take the
chances of another tumble. He was not going to risk the loss of his
favourite Black Hawk for the white steed, even had he been certain of
capturing the latter. But this was no longer likely. On the contrary,
he might, instead of making a capture, lose his own horse, were he to
continue the chase; and that he well knew would be a terrible situation.
With the best grace he could, therefore, he abandoned the pursuit,
leaving the mustang to scamper off alone. He watched him for several
minutes, until the latter, far, far away, faded like a white cloud into
the pale blue of the horizon.

The young hunter now bethought him of returning to his companions. In
what direction was he to go? He looked around for the butte. There it
was; but, to his astonishment, it lay directly before him, and nearer
than when he last saw it! He had been all this while galloping towards
it; but in his haste had not noticed this. Lucien and Francois must be
behind, thought he, and would soon come that way. The best thing he
could do, therefore, would be to wait until they should come up; and,
with this intention, he sat down upon one of the little hillocks,
leaving his horse to wander about at will.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

A DOG-TOWN.

Black Hawk strayed off to some dist