The Last Piskun 279 



were for the time. Simultaneously with 

 that move all the waiting women and chil- 

 dren rose up from behind the wings and 

 screamed and waved blankets. Pandemo- 

 nium had broken loose on every hand. 



The fear in those thousands of galloping 

 hoofs became frenzy. Madly, frantically 

 they galloped. Safety was only to be had 

 ahead. 



A cloud of dust like a winding-sheet rose 

 beneath those sharp-cutting hoofs, which 

 beat the prairies with a roar like Niagara. 

 Thus, all unconscious of its fate, fear-crazed, 

 with what little sense they ordinarily pos- 

 sessed gone, the herd swept on to its doom. 



The buffalo trailer now lashed his cayuse 

 frantically. Full well he knew the risk 

 that he was running. A misstep, a stumble 

 by the pinto and he would be ground to 

 pulp beneath that avalanche behind. 



But the slight opening, through which he 

 was to escape to safety, was close at hand. 



