22 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



The cliief of the Pawnees happened to retreat to 

 the spot where the scene which I narrate took place, 

 and he advanced slowly to the animals, in order to 

 drive them back, when the three Americans who 

 accompanied me broke out of the cover and advanced 

 towards the horses. This clumsy movement upset 

 all the plans of the Eed Skins. Immediatel}'^ they 

 perceived the men, the wild horses dashed off into 

 the valley, pursued by the three Americans, who 

 were shouting like men possessed. It w^as in vain 

 for the Pawnees, wdio formed the middle line, to 

 attempt to stop the fugitives and make them turn 

 back. The animals, so hotly pursued, broke through 

 the line and escaped into the open plain. On see- 

 ing this, the Red Skins raised their war-whoop, and 

 spurred their horses to a gallop. 



The bisons, who up to this time had been 

 peaceably grazing in the prairie, seemed now to 

 hold a consultation together, and looking with an 

 air of astonishment at the human avalanche which 

 came pouring towards them, they took flight at a 

 rapid pace, galloping towards a marsh which v;as 

 at the foot of the valley. As for the horses, they 

 fled along the narrow defile through the mountains, 

 and disappeared pell-mell in a cloud of dust. The 

 three Americans and about fifty Pawnees were on 

 the heels of the wild horses, but none of them could 

 use the lasso with any success. I must here con- 

 fess my own incompetence as a horseman, and I 



