THE LAST FRONTIER 



just the other side of her. His head was thrust up 

 and forward, as he reached after some of the higher 

 tender leaves on the bushes. So close was he that I 

 could see plainly the drops glistening on his moist 

 black nose. As for Billy, peacefully unwinding her 

 long veil, she seemed fairly under the beast. 



I had no weapon, and any moment might bring 

 some word or some noise that would catch the ani- 

 mal's attention. Fortunately, for the moment, 

 every one, relaxed in the first reaction after the long 

 morning, was keeping silence. If the buffalo should 

 look down, he could not fail to see Billy; and if he 

 saw her, he would indubitably kill her. 



As has been explained, snapping the fingers does 

 not seem to reach the attention of wild animals. 

 Therefore I snapped mine as vigorously as I knew 

 how. Billy heard, looked toward me, turned in the 

 direction of my gaze, and slowly sank prone against 

 the ground. Some of the boys heard me also, and 

 I could see the heads of all of them popping up in 

 interest from the banks of the stream. My cautious 

 but very frantic signals to lie low were understood: 

 the heads dropped back. Mavrouki, a rifle in each 

 hand, came worming his way toward me through 

 the grass with incredible quickness and agility. A 

 moment later he thrust the 405 Winchester into my 

 hand. 



366 



