164 LIFE IN THE FAB WEST 



own and companion's life hung upon the success of his 

 shot, he scarcely had strength to raise his rifle. By 

 dint of extraordinary exertions and precautions which 

 were totally unnecessary, for the poor old bull had not 

 a move in him the hunter approached within shot. 

 Lying upon the ground, he took a long steady aim, and 

 fired. The buffalo raised its matted head, tossed it 

 wildly for an instant, and, stretching out its limbs 

 convulsively, turned over on its side and was dead. 



Killbuck heard the shot, and, crawling from under 

 the little shanty which covered his bed, saw, to his 

 astonishment, La Bonte in the act of butchering a buffalo 

 within two hundred yards of camp. " Hurraw for you ! " 

 he faintly exclaimed $ and exhausted by the exertion he 

 had used, and perhaps by the excitement of an antici- 

 pated feast, fell back and fainted. 



However, the killing was the easiest matter, for when 

 the huge carcass lay dead upon the ground, our hunter 

 had hardly strength to drive the blade of his knife 

 through the tough hide of the old patriarch. Then, 

 having cut off as much of the meat as he could carry, 

 eating the while sundry portions of the liver, which he 

 dipped in the gall-bladder by way of relish, La Bonte' 

 cast a wistful look upon the half-starved wolves, who 

 now loped round and round, licking their chops, only 

 waiting until his back was turned to fall to with appetite 

 equal to his own, and capabilities of swallowing and 

 digesting far superior. La Bonte looked at the buffalo 

 and then at the wolves, levelled his rifle and shot one 

 dead ; at which the survivor scampered off without delay. 



