142 HUNTING TRIPS 



some little distance his lowered head was 

 unpleasantly near the tired pony's tail. I 

 tried to run in on him again, but my pony 

 stopped short, dead beat; and by no spur- 

 ring could I force him out of a slow trot. 

 My companion jumped off and took a 

 couple of shots at the buffalo, which missed 

 in the dim moonlight; and to our unutter- 

 able chagrin the wounded bull labored off 

 and vanished in the darkness. I made after 

 him on foot, in hopeless and helpless wrath, 

 until he got out of sight. 



Our horses were completely done out ; we 

 did not mount them again, but led them 

 slowly along, trembling, foaming, and 

 sweating. The ground was moist in places, 

 and after an hour's search we found in a 

 reedy hollow a little mud-pool, with water 

 so slimy that it was almost gelatinous. 

 Thirsty though we were, for we had not 

 drunk for twelve hours, neither man nor 

 horse could swallow more than a mouthful 

 or two of this water. We unsaddled the 

 horses, and made our beds by the hollow, 



