26 PRAIRIE AXD FOREST. 



the hunters and game is rapidly diminished. From 

 the nature of the ground, no longer can they remain 

 hid, so, taking their horses well in hand, forward they 

 dash, and, in a few strides, what a sight is before 

 them ! Cows, hulls, and calves, all intermingled, 

 forming a straggling drove of thousands, heading in 

 the same direction, and feeding as they progress. 

 Occasionally this harmony of action is disturbed. 

 Two ragged, clumsy -looking, veteran bulls approach 

 each other : perhaps they have been former rivals for 

 some dusky-hided beauty's favours. With a deep 

 bellow one throws down the gauntlet, which the other is 

 not loth to take up ; and, with fire flashing from their 

 partially hid eyes, each rushes at the other. But the 

 herd have become alarmed a foe equally dreaded by 

 both bulls is at hand ; their rencontre will brook delay 

 to be settled at a future date ; and, with a startled 

 stare and toss of the head, both turn and rush off 

 after the herd, which is already making a most 

 hurried stampede. However, when the hunters are 

 old hands, the bulls might have saved themselves the 

 trouble ; while young cow-beef is to be obtained, none 

 but the veriest novice would think of wasting ammuni- 

 tion on their rough and rugged old carcases. No time 

 is now to be lost. These animals, unwieldy as they 

 appear, for a mile or so are wonderfully swift, and if 

 they should gain rough ground will beat an indifferent 

 horse. Sitting weh 1 down in their saddles, nags in hand, 

 at a grass-country speed, both push for the sleekest and 

 squarest-looking cows they can mark. The pace com- 

 mences to tell ; the distance that separates sportsman 

 from quarry is rapidly diminishing, a few strides more 

 and one ranges alongside ; the heavy pistol, which has 



