SCENES IN BUFFALO HUNTING. '21l» 



and, mounting our horses, we dashed after the red man. 

 Our direction soon broii^dit us in sight of the retreating 

 bufl'alo ; and, with the Indian and m}stlf. dnslud on a 

 third person, the valiant '' Breeches." 



I foHowed as a spectator, and keeping close to both, 

 was enabled to watch two beings so widely different in 

 form, looks, and action, while bent on tlio sanio exciting 

 pursuit. 



Fortunately, two buifalos of large size, cut off from 

 the main body, were being driven towards us by some 

 one of our party : a distant report of a rifle, and the sud- 

 den stopping of one of the animals, told the tale. 



The remaining bull, alarmed by the report of the 

 rifle, rushed madly on, with enemies in front and rear. 

 Discovering its new danger, it wheeled almost on its 

 heels and ran for life. Whatever miit^ht have been our 

 vivid imaginings of the excitement of a buffiilo chase, 

 we now felt the fruition beyond our most sanguine 

 hopes. 



Before us ran the buflfalo, then followed the Indian, 

 and beside liim " Breeches," so closely that you would 

 have thought a dark Apollo on a mettled charger, had 

 by some necromancy cast the shadow of a cornfield scare- 

 crow. We soon gained on the bufl'alo, rapidly as he 

 moved his feet under him. " Breeches " poised his rude 

 instrument to make the fearful cut at the hamstrings, 

 when the Indian, plucking a)i arrow from his quiver, 

 bent his bow, and pointing it at " Brtecdies' " side, 



