SCENES IN BUFFALO HUNTING. 223 
The buffalo, on the contrary, the moment that the ten- 
don is severed, falls to the ground entirely helpless, and 
perfectly harmless to one beyond the reach of its horns. 
A very short chase in company with “ Breeches,” 
brought us up to one of the bulls; he poised his stick, 
thrust it forward, and the tendon Achilles, full of life 
and full of action, was touched by the sharp blade; its 
tension, as it sustained the immense bull in his upward 
leaps, made it, when severed, spring back as will the 
breaking string of the harp; and the helpless beast, 
writhing in pain, came to the ground. 
One of our party on witnessing this exhibition, gave 
an exulting shout, and declared that he would bring a 
buffalo down or break his neck; he soon came beside a 
venerable bull, and as he made repeated thrusts, a thou- 
sand directions were given him as to the manner of pro- 
ceeding. The race was a well contested one, and the 
heels of the pursued animal were strangely accelerated 
by the thrusts made at him in his rear. 
A lange was finally accomplished by the ‘“ Ta-wa-ki- 
na,” that almost threw him from his horse; the fearful 
cut brought the huge bull directly under the rider’s 
feet; the next instant the noble steed was impaled upon 
the buffalo’s horns, and the unfortunate rider lay in- 
sensible on the ground. In the excitement, the wrong 
hamstring had been cut, and, as the animal always falls 
upon the wounded side, the mistake had caused the bull 
to become a stumbling block in his path. 
