THE BUFFALO. 231 



almost everybody does it, I had too lively a sense of danger 

 to indulge in such delights ; so I seized the lariat or trail- 

 ing-rope, which was running out rapidly, and bolted after 

 my steed in a half-dazed manner, for I felt as if I had half 

 a dozen pieces of a head on me instead of a whole one. I 

 did not go far, however, before I overtook him, and got 

 into the saddle somehow. 



It was a most fortunate thing for me that the bull did 

 not charge, else I might have been gored to death. I 

 learned from that accident to keep my balance, and not to 

 touch the mustang with my feet as his training had 

 taught him to be guided by them, and to wheel to which- 

 ever side he felt their pressure. 



I did not lose much time in getting under headway once 

 more ; and in five minutes I was beside the bull, which had 

 fallen back to the extreme rear of the column. I tried to 

 force my mustang close beside him, in order to get in a 

 deadly shot; but that wary animal did not seem inclined 

 to do so, but kept away at least thirty yards or more. I 

 then tried running past the bull, and managed to accom- 

 plish that easily enough, and to deliver three shots in rapid 

 succession at his shoulder. When I wheeled about I saw 

 him stop, and noticed blood oozing from his nose, and when 

 I got in front of him he charged me viciously with his head 

 lowered ; but the mustang was evidently prepared for this 

 action, for he turned abruptly to the left, and by the time 

 the enraged bull got to where he had been standing he was 

 several yards away in another direction. I checked him in 

 a few moments, however, and charged the veteran at full 

 speed, and, rushing past him, gave him two shots in the 

 head, and when I wheeled about again I saw him stagger- 

 ing; and in less than a minute he fell dead. I need not 

 say I was glad of it, for my head seemed to be splitting, 

 and I wished very much to see if it were whole or in parts. 

 After a short examination I learned that there were no un- 

 usual indentations in it, and this put me in better humor 

 than I had been. 



Not seeing any wolves on the plain, I left my trophy 



