138 The King of the Thundering Herd 



hold Shep, who was all eagerness, trembling 

 and panting to do his trick, while Buck 

 trotted slowly by. At just the right mo- 

 ment Bennie would let go the dog's collar, 

 and Shep would spring lightly to the buf- 

 falo's back. 



Then Buck would be called back, and 

 sent by at a sharp trot when the dog would 

 mount as before. But when Shep bounded 

 lightly to his uncertain seat and gained his 

 balance, while the buffalo was going at a 

 pounding gallop, the settlers fairly yelled 

 themselves hoarse. 



All good times, however, come to a close, 

 and so this one did, for finally the fun 

 was over, and Bennie hitched Buck into 

 the sled and they started home, feeling well 

 repaid for their trouble, although the out- 

 ing going and coming, and two days at the 

 Bluffs, had consumed nearly a week. 



When Buck was four years old, and Ben- 

 nie was a stalwart, self-reliant boy of fifteen, 



