224 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



tempted to cross my front. I fired at him, and planted a 

 bullet in his shaggy forehead; but it had no effect upon 

 him, apparently, for he kept up his swinging gallop at the 

 same speed. I then started in pursuit, and commenced fir- 

 ing away, in hopes that I might give him a wound that 

 would cause him to halt, as I had no confidence in the 

 pace of my horse; but before I fired the third shot the 

 bullet got jammed in the Winchester rifle which I carried, 

 and no amount of pushing and "cussing" could extricate 

 it, so I was compelled to halt to get it out. When I turn- 

 ed my attention from the gun to the bull, I saw him disap- 

 pearing over a bluff, while my horse was going direct for 

 home ! Oh, how I blessed that buffalo-runner and the man 

 who praised him ! My misfortunes having reached a cli- 

 max, I became stupidly calm in mind, and let the brute go 

 his own course, without even attempting to punish him 

 with the spurs. On my way back I saw the leader advan- 

 cing, and driving a wounded cow before him, and by his 

 side was a coal-black negro who rode a sorry excuse of a 

 mustang. When he saw me he shouted to hurry up, and, 

 on approaching him, he asked me if I had killed anything. 



" Nothing," said I. 



"Well," said he, "you mustn't go away from your first 

 run with me without killing a buffalo; so you'd better 

 tackle that cow, else you won't have any luck in your 

 next hunt." 



The thought was ignominious; but, being imbued with 

 a small amount of the hunter's superstition, I concluded to 

 become lucky in the chase, even at the expense of pride ; 

 so I opened fire on the poor creature, and in a short time 

 caused her to halt, and a shot in the eye finished her, as it 

 reached the brain. When brought to bay her eyes were 

 a glowing emerald with rage, and she looked vicious enough 

 to do anything, but, fortunately, she was unable to charge, 

 else she might have gored me or the brute I rode, for he 

 was too stupid or lazy to move off promptly even with a 

 vigorous application of the spurs. I had killed my buffalo, 

 to be sure ; but, by Jove, in what a manner ! I actually felt 



