A BISON HUNT. 131 



eaid, mere was n full view of us a fine herd of some four or five 

 hundred buffaloes, perfectly at rest, and in their own estimation 

 (probably) perfectly secure. Some were grazing, and others were 

 lying d( vvn and sleeping; we advanced within a mile or so of them 

 in full view, and came to a halt. Mons. Chardon u tossed the 

 feather" (a custom always observed, to try the course of the wind,.) 

 and we commenced "stripping" as it is termed (i. e. every man 

 strips himself and his horse of every extraneous and unnecessary 

 appendage of dress, &c., that might be an incumbrance in running :) 

 hats are laid off, and coats, and bullet pouches; sleeves are rolled up, 

 a handkerchief tied tightly around the head, and another around the 

 waist cartridges are prepared and placed in the waistcoat pocket, 

 or a half a dozen bullets " th rowed into the mouth," &c., &c., all 

 of which takes up some ten or fifteen minutes, and is not, in appear 

 ance or in effect, unlike a council of war. Our leader lays the 

 whole plan of the chase, and preliminaries all fixed, guns charged 

 and ramrods in our hands, we mount and start for the onset. The 

 horses are all trained for this business, and seem to enter into it 

 with as much enthusiasm, and with as restless a spirit as the riders 

 themselves. While "stripping" and mounting, they exhibit the 

 most restless impatience; and when "approaching" (which is, 

 all of us abreast, upon a slow walk, and in a straight line towards 

 the herd, until they discover us and run,) they all seem to have 

 caught entirely the spirit of the chase, for the laziest rug Amongst 

 them prances with an elasticity in his step champing his ar hi 

 ears erect his eyes strained out of his head, and fixed upor Jie 

 game before him, whilst 1m trembles under the saddle of his rider 

 In '.his way we carefully and silently marched, until within som* 

 forty or fifty rods ; when the herd discovering us, wheeled and 

 laid their course in a mass. At this instant we started ! (and all 

 must start, for no one could check the fury of those steeds at that 

 moment of excitement,) and away all sailed, and over the prairie 

 flew, in a cloud of dust which was raised by their trampling hoofs. 

 MtKenzie was foremost in the throng, and soon dashed off amidst 

 the dust and was out of sight he was after the fattest and the 

 fastest. I had discovered a huge bull whose shoulders towered 



