A Strange Ride 159 



He also found the morass through which 

 he and Buck had plunged their way. They 

 had been more fortunate than many of the 

 herd, for scores of bison still foundered in 

 the quicksands, some of them just showing 

 above the black earth which was soon to 

 engulf them. 



Heart-sick at such sights, and shudder- 

 ing at what he had so narrowly missed, 

 Bennie turned Buck's head southward, and 

 started back toward the Missouri with all 

 possible speed. 



One more adventure he had that might 

 have had a tragic ending, but did not. 



He had nearly reached the Missouri and 

 was riding leisurely along, just at dusk, 

 when he noticed a great commotion among 

 the buffalo half a mile behind him. He was 

 upon a rise in the prairie and in a good 

 position to see, so stopped for a moment to 

 investigate. 



Presently the cause for their fright was 



