CHAPTER XVII. 



RECONNOITRE ON THE PRAIRIE HERDS OF BULL BTSONS WATCHING 

 AN IMMENSE BUFFALO BREECH-LOADER V6TSUS MUZZLE-LOADER EX 

 CITING CHASE A TAIL-LESS BUFFALO DIFFICULTIES WITH " TAY- 



MOUTH" A SAD DILEMMA WILD RIDE OVER THE PLAINS A 



BISON'S CHARGE REFLECTIONS OF A HUNTER A SENSIBLE STEED 



END OF THE FORTY MINUTES' CHASE A BISON TO BRING HOME. 



THE next morning, the 13th of October, the weather 

 was beautiful, when, mounting Tay mouth, and armed 

 with my Manton muzzle-loading rifle and Prince's car 

 bine, with George Bromfield on my pony to carry the 

 Manton rifle and to hold our horses, Mr Bayard and 

 myself, in company with Major Martin, set out for some 

 rocky plains, unsuitable for running, for the purpose of 

 stalking buffalo. Mr Bayard again had my double 

 breech-loading rifle made by Pape. As this was to be 

 the last day entirely devoted to buffalo, we took a six- 

 mule waggon, Mr Canterall, forbidden by me to hunt, 

 and five men, in order to possess ourselves of such spoils 

 as the chase afforded. We were proceeding over the 

 plains, on our way to what we conceived to be undis 

 turbed ground, when suddenly a wild-looking single bull 



