THE BUFFALO. 239 



mensc column of buffaloes rising out of the horizon and 

 come galloping toward us, and, a little later, we saw that it 

 was pursued by a large band of Indians, who were plying 

 their arrows as they only can. They carried the quiver 

 slung over the shoulder; and so quickly did they draw the 

 bolts from this, that one arrow was scarcely on its way be- 

 fore another was following it. 



Knowing that they were friendly Pawnees, we decided 

 to have a run with them ; so, when the buffaloes drew near 

 us, we dashed for the head of the column, and as it passed 

 us emptied our weapons into it whenever we saw a stately 

 bull that suited our fancy; and, when all had gone by, we 

 wheeled about and followed them. I was more interested 

 in the picture presented by the chase than in getting tro- 

 phies, however, as it was full of life and animation. The 

 maddened herd, the clouds of dust, the thundering of hoofs, 

 the falling of the killed and wounded, the charging and 

 wheeling of ponies, the showers of arrows, and the wild 

 excitement of the nude Centaurs made as stirring a hunt- 

 ing scene as it is possible to conceive ; and so interested in 

 it was I that I permitted the animals to pass on, and re- 

 mained behind to enjoy the grand spectacle they present- 

 ed. After gazing at it for a sufficient time to enable me 

 to appreciate its spirited character, I dashed after the fugi- 

 tives, and was beside them in less than twenty minutes, and 

 picking out the best heads. 



While going at full speed, my horse put his leg into a 

 prairie-dog hole, and, falling forward, pitched me headlong 

 to the ground; and I had no sooner touched it than the 

 revolver went off so close to my nose that some of the dirt 

 ploughed up by the bullet went into my eyes and mouth. 

 I was upon my feet in a moment, however, and, on looking 

 for my horse, found him standing still, trembling with ex- 

 citement and the violence of the fall ; but as he had suffer- 

 ed no serious injury, I inferred that he had merely stum- 

 bled against the mound near the mouth of the hole. 



My own bruises were confined to skinned knuckles and 

 arms, and a few scratches on the forehead ; and, after I 



