350 A BATTLE WITH BISONS. 



" Then," said my friend, in reply to one of my remarks, 

 " you have never seen a bison, alive or stuffed ! I promise 

 you that before to-morrow you shall enjoy the pleasure. 

 This is the fourth time I have travelled this route, and I 

 recognize on the horizon one of the localities frequented 

 by these animals : you will see if I am mistaken. I 

 recollect, two years ago, after my last hunting excursion, 

 arriving in the middle of the valley which you see down 

 yonder, and which forms a kind of irregular circle, whose 

 circumference is discernible from every side. Suddenly 

 I heard a noise in the distance, like a clap of thunder. 

 For some moments I wondered what could possibly be 

 the cause of the unwonted tumult ; but before I could 

 put any question to my Indian companions the cause 

 became visible : and it was not without a deep emotion 

 I watched the approach, at a gallop, through every pass 

 and ravine opening on the valley, of a herd of bisons 

 which, without exaggeration, was composed of ten thou- 

 sand heads. 



" Prompt as thought, the eight Sioux, my guides, began 

 firing, and, unable to remain a cold spectator, I too plunged 

 into the glorious fray. The detonation of our muskets, 

 the bellows of terrified bisons, formed a scene which I 

 am wholly unable to describe; and, escaping through 

 every opening, the herd rapidly took leave of us, aban- 

 doning ten of their number three dangerously wounded, 

 and seven dead on the field. For an hour we could 

 hear the ground echoing with the report of the hoofs of 

 the fugitives. Come on, my friend ; I believe, from 

 some particular signs, that to-morrow we shall begin our 

 chase." 



" I accept the augury," I replied to my amiable coin- 



