ON THE PRAIRIE 14 r 



able to get nearly up to him. The 

 ground over which we were running was 

 fearful, being broken into holes and ditches, 

 separated by hillocks ; in the dull light, and 

 at the speed we were going, no attempt 

 could be made to guide the horses, and the 

 latter, fagged out by their exertions, floun- 

 dered and pitched forward at every stride, 

 hardly keeping their legs. When up within 

 twenty feet I fired my rifle, but the dark- 

 ness, and especially the violent, labored mo- 

 tion of my pony, made me miss ; I tried to 

 get in closer, when suddenly up went the 

 bull's tail, and wheeling, he charged me with 

 lowered horns. My pony, frightened into 

 momentary activity, spun round and tossed 

 up his head ; I was holding the rifle in both 

 hands, and the pony's head, striking it, 

 knocked it violently against my forehead, 

 cutting quite a gash, from which, heated as I 

 was, the blood poured into my eyes. Mean- 

 while the buffalo, passing me, charged my 

 companion, and followed him as he made 

 off, and, as the ground was very bad, for 



