i86 The King of the Thundering Herd 



thinking to get by the King's guard and rip 

 him in the side of the head ; but the King 

 was an experienced fighter and he shifted 

 his head each time to meet Buck's move- 

 ments. 



Then Buck tried a new stratagem. He 

 shifted his weight to one side and let the 

 King push him back for several yards, 

 thinking to get at the King's side in this 

 manner, but nothing was gained, as they 

 merely changed ground a little and neither 

 had the advantage. 



For fifteen minutes like mighty giants 

 they strode and the ground was ploughed 

 deep by their hoofs. Sweat stood upon 

 their flanks and foam dripped from their 

 muzzles. Their breaths came in deep 

 gasps like a blacksmith's bellows. Occa- 

 sionally a deep grunt escaped from one or 

 the other as the battle swayed. Buck re- 

 ceived a bad wound in the jowl, and he in 

 turn gashed the King in the cheek. 



