CAMP. 91 



very distant roaring sound struck upon my ear. Think- 

 ing of water I rushed out at once, and, running up the 

 side of the hill, peered up the stream into the darkness to 

 discover an approaching line of foam, precursor of the 

 flood. 



Just then the wind brought the sound more dis- 

 tinctly. It came from the prairie, not from the stream, 

 and was approaching. I sent the sentinel to wake up 

 the corporal and other two men of the guard, who soon 

 made their appearance with their arms. 



Explaining to the men in a few words the nature of 

 the danger, I warned them to keep perfectly cool and to 

 obey orders. By this time the black line of the moving 

 mass of buffalo was distinctly visible. It was bearing 

 directly down upon us with tremendous speed and 

 irresistible force. We were in an excellent position for 

 the protection of the camp, being directly between it and 

 the buffalo, and about fifty yards from it. My only 

 chance was to split the herd. If this could be done, we 

 and the camp would be saved ; if not, all would go to 

 destruction together. Waiting until the advance line of 

 buffalo was within thirty yards, the muskets were fired in 

 rapid and continuous succession, and we in unison let 

 out one of the most unearthly yells that ever split the 

 throats of five badly-frightened men. A few of the 

 leading animals fell dead, the others swerved from the 

 fire and noise ; the herd was split, and, tumbling in fright 

 and confusion down the bank on each side of the camp, 

 went thundering and roaring into the darkness. 



In all my life I have never seen so badly-frightened a 

 lot of people as those in camp, nor do I blame or 

 disparage them in the least. Waked from sound sleep 

 by the rapid firing and hideous yells, they rushed out of 

 their tents to find themselves in the very midst of a 

 plunging, struggling mass of buffalo. 



The edge of one portion of the split herd passed 

 within thirty feet of one flank of the camp, while the 



