ON THE PRAlh 131 



g out to look for the game they were 

 rited on large horses ; when a band was 

 spied they would dismount and get on the 

 smaller buffalo ponies which the orderlies 

 been leading behind them. Then they 

 would carefully approach from the leeward 

 side, if possible keeping behind some hill 

 or divide. When this was no longer pos- 

 sible they trotted gently towards the game, 

 which usually gathered together and stood 

 for a moment looking at them. The in- 

 stant the buffalo turned, the spurs were put 

 in and the ponies raced forward for all 

 there was in them, it being an important 

 point to close as soon as possible, as buf- 

 falo, though not swift, are very enduring. 

 Usually a half a mile took the hunters up to 

 the game, when each singled out his animal, 

 rode along-side on its left flank, so close 

 as almost to be able to touch it with the 

 hand, and fired the heavy revolver into the 

 loins or small of the back, the bullet rang- 

 ing forward. At the instant of firing, the 

 trained pony swerved off to the left, al- 



