A BUFFALO-RUN WITH THE CROWS. 315 



near the camp, they were several miles away under the charge 

 of a guard. 



He said that the buffaloes were very plentiful near the 

 camp, and offered us horses if we cared to have a run, which 

 offer I accepted, Fishel preferring to go to the horse-camp, 

 which he could do just as well alone. In the morning I found 

 a wild-looking animal waiting for me outside the lodge in 

 charge of an urchin about 'five years old, and almost as wild 

 as the horse. These little fellows, though their legs stick out 

 straight and they can get no grip, will ride any horse in camp, 

 and are frequently sent out to bring in a band of them, turning 

 their own rapidly in any direction to head a horse off which 

 tries to escape. I found that about a hundred Indians were 

 going with me, and that we were under the orders of a sub- 

 chief, with whom I rode. We were some hours finding cows 

 and calves, passing a good many old bulls, but at last came 

 upon a large band, and when they began to run, the word was 

 given, and with a wild yell away went all the Indians, I doing 

 my best to keep a good place. I had a pair of sharp spurs or 

 I should have been nowhere, as an Indian pony will not go for 

 a white man without them, and even then I found that I must 

 content myself with a " back seat " as they had given me a 

 slow one, so I waited till the band was separated, and then 

 took after two cows and a calf which had gone off at right 

 angles to the others, all the Indians having left me. I 

 followed the buffaloes into a narrow side valley and gradually 

 crept up to them till I was almost alongside, when round they 

 both came and charged, defending the calf. I fired and hit 

 one of them in the neck as she came on but did not stop her, 

 and had to gallop some way to get rid of her, giving her 



