wanted
meat so badly, he felt half sorry that he had shot the poor beast that
lay stiffening by his side for he had leaped down, and had, as if by
instinct, taken hold of Black Boy's rein, lest he should suddenly take
it into his head to gallop off and leave his master in the solitude by
himself.

For a few minutes there was something novel and strange in the sensation
of being the only human being in that vast circle whose circumference
was the horizon, seen from his own centre.

Then it began to be astonishing, and Bart wondered why he could not see
either hunters or buffaloes.

Lastly, it began to be painful, and to be mingled with a curious
sensation of dread. He realised that he was alone in that vast plain--
that he had galloped on for a long while without noticing in which
direction he had gone, and then, half-stunned and wondering as he fully
realised the fact that he was lost, he mounted his horse and sat
thinking.

He did not think much, for there was a singular, stupefied feeling in
his head for a time. But this passed off, and was succeeded by a
bewildering rush of thought--what was to become of him if he were left
here like this--alone--without a friend--hopeless of being found?

This wild race of fancies was horrible while it endured, and Bart
pressed the cold barrel of his rifle to his forehead in the hope of
finding relief, but it gave none.

The relief came from his own effort as he tried to pull himself
together, laughing at his own cowardice, and ridiculing his fears.

"What a pretty sort of a hunter I shall make!" he said aloud, "to be
afraid of being left alone for a few minutes in broad daylight, with the
sun shining down upon my head, and plenty of beef to eat if I like to
light myself a fire."

It was ridiculous, he told himself, and that he ought to feel ashamed;
for he was ignorant of the fact that even old plainsmen and practised
hunters may lose their nerve at such a time, and suffer so from the
horror of believing themselves lost that some even become insane.

Fortunately, perhaps, Bart did not know this, and he bantered himself
until he grew cooler, when he began to calculate on what was the proper
thing to do.

"Let me see," he said; "they are sure to begin looking for me as soon as
I am missed. What shall I do? Fire my rifle--make a fire--ride off to
try and find them?"

He sat upon his horse thinking.

If he fired his rifle or made a fire, he might bring down Indians