The Thundering Herd 79 



For a few minutes the two dead bulls at 

 the rear of the wagon seemed to act as a 

 buffer and the others parted just enough to 

 graze the wagon. The mules, who brayed 

 and kicked whenever the buffalo came too 

 close, also helped, but presently another 

 bunch was seen bearing down upon them. 

 They were close together and crowding, and 

 did not seem likely to give way for the 

 crouching fugitives under the wagon. 



Although Bennie and his father both 

 fired, and Mr. Anderson followed up the 

 rifle shots with both barrels from the shot- 

 gun, and three shots from the Colt's, yet 

 they struck the wagon with a terrific shock. 



There was frantic kicking and frenzied 

 braying from both Abe and Ulysses and a 

 violent kicking and pounding in the wagon 

 that seemed to be immediately over their 

 heads. 



It was plain that instantaneous action of 

 some kind was necessary if their domicile 



