BUFFALO RUNNING. 63 



centre. When we arrived within a quarter of a mile 

 of the largest band, they began to move slowly off; 

 and La Ronde, imitating the lowing of a buffalo, the 

 other groups looked up from their grazing, and then 

 trotted off to join the main body who were still 

 walking quietly along. We now went forward at a 

 canter, and the herd having collected together, broke 

 into a lumbering gallop ; but we gained on them 

 rapidly, until within about 200 yards, when they 

 went off at speed. La Eonde gave the signal with a 

 wild " Hurrah ! hurrah ! allez ! allez !" and away we 

 all went, helter-skelter, arms brandishing, and heels 

 hammering our horses' ribs in true half-breed fashion 

 — a mad, wild charge, Milton leading on his old red 

 horse, and Cheadle bringing up the rear on the 

 little roan mare. As we closed with them, the herd 

 broke up into bands of three or four, and each person 

 selected the one lying most favourably for himself. 

 A succession of shots soon told that the slaughter had 

 begun; but we were all quickly separated, and each 

 knew nothing of the success of the rest, until the run 

 was over. 



Buffalo running is certainly a most fascinating 

 sport. The wild charge together into the thick of 

 the herd, the pursuit of the animal selected from the 

 band, which a well-trained horse follows and turns as 

 a greyhound courses a hare ; the spice of danger in it 

 from the charge of a wounded animal, or a fall from 

 the holes so numerous on the prairies, contrive to 

 render it extremely exciting. There is something 

 also very ludicrous in the appearance of the bulls as 



