AN ERROR IN PAPERS RIFLE. 253 



dred bulls in their gallop over the prairies prevented my 

 distinguishing a hit by ear ; however, the bull suddenly 

 gave indications of distress by slackening speed and 

 leaving the herd, and I am sure that one or the other of 

 my shots had done the office. At this moment, and when 

 I had fired my last barrel, I was delighted to be joined 

 by Bayard, followed by Mr Canterall, when the latter 

 missed the bison with an army carbine twice, and Mr 

 Bayard fired at him and hit him hard. 



On reaching a small creek, the bull there stood stock 

 still and turned to bay, though neither myself nor Bayard 

 could see where he was wounded ; nevertheless, it was 

 very obvious that the game was dying. Mr Bayard shot 

 at him again, and I took the carbine from Mr Canterall, 

 and fired at him twice, Sylph standing fire rather more 

 steadily than Taymouth, when the great bull reeled 

 slightly and dropped down dead. Having taken his 

 tongue and tail, &c., we returned to the waggon, deposited 

 our spoils, and then, finding that Sylph was more man 

 ageable than Taymouth, I took in hand my double 

 breech-loading rifle, made by Pape of Newcastle, the 

 cartridges ready capped with the needle, so that it 

 loaded without the least additional delay ; and Bayard 

 mounting my bay horse Kansas, we set off to search for 

 further game. Bisons were all round us, and we soon 

 viewed nearly two hundred in a herd, and on them we 

 immediately ran. The herd separated into detachments, 

 and myself and Bayard ran buffalo in different directions, 

 while Mr Canterall followed other beasts we knew not 

 where. The section which I followed and came up with 

 was a large one, and I passed to the right of the string 

 at about 30 yards, Sylph at that distance giving very 

 little trouble, and then, when I came up with the leading 



