230 SPOUTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



a hasty breakfast, vaulted into the saddles and started in 

 search of the slain and wounded. We found them few 

 enough, our fire having killed only six cows and seriously 

 wounded another; but we discovered a solitary old bull 

 roaming about half a mile away, and we soon had him 

 among our trophies ; not because he was deemed palatable, 

 but that he had a magnificent head. 



We next directed our course to the eastward of the 

 camp, and after a ride of two miles came upon several 

 small herds ; but beyond these the prairie was almost cov- 

 ered with them. We halted and held a consultation, and 

 it was then decided that our party should divide into three 

 detachments, and that each should take one of the small 

 herds and drive it, if possible, toward the main body, so 

 that we might pick up the meat on the way to camp, and 

 not waste any time in useless riding back and forth. That 

 matter having been settled, the party to which I belonged 

 approached to within a quarter of a mile of the column we 

 had selected before being detected ; but on seeing that we 

 could get no nearer, we dashed after it. The race contin- 

 ued at a headlong pace for a mile or more before we were 

 able to overtake the animals, aud even then we could only 

 range along-side the old bulls. As it was each man for 

 himself, I chose a sturdy veteran that occupied the flank, 

 and when I was within fifty paces of him I leaned forward 

 and fired at his heart; but the ball must have struck his 

 ribs, as he did not slacken his pace. I then brought the 

 mustang closer to him and fired at the fore-shoulder, and, 

 in doing so, I leaned to the right ; but the explosion had 

 scarcely taken place before my steed wheeled suddenly, 

 and, it seemed to me, on his hind-legs alone; and as I had 

 lost my balance by my attitude he went clean from under 

 me, and I came on the ground with a thud that made me 

 see as many stars as there are in the firmament in a few 

 seconds, and caused me to feel as if my head were smashed. 

 Instead of stopping to scratch it, however, and indulge in 

 vehement language, which seems to be the usual and the 

 proper thing to do under such circumstances, seeing that 



