The Thundering Herd 



cannot get through the side, so I do not see 

 but we are secure." 



" Thank God," exclaimed Mrs. Anderson 

 fervently, " but I shan't feel safe until the 

 last buffalo has passed." 



She had barely ceased speaking when old 

 Abe uttered a piercing bray, in which was 

 both terror and pain. He accompanied the 

 outcry with a vicious kick, but almost im- 

 mediately sank to the earth, kicking and paw- 

 ing. It was then seen that a bull had ripped 

 open the mule's left side, partially disem- 

 boweling him, a mortal wound. His 

 frantic kicking so endangered the cowering 

 fugitives under the wagon that Mr. Ander- 

 son was obliged to shoot him. His loss was 

 irreparable, and the boys whimpered softly 

 to themselves as they saw their old friend 

 stretched out dead beside the wagon. 



Old Brindle at this point became unman- 

 ageable, breaking her rope, so that the 

 seething black mass swallowed her. " There 



