YOUTH AND AGE. 53 



old hunter, though his features showed it not, had 

 seen all that was passing in the mind of his youthful 

 rival. He resolves to profit by the occasion. He 

 places the arrow upon the string, which' he draws till 

 the tough bois cVarc bow-points nearly meet, and in 

 an instant his bull rolls dead upon the prairie. With 

 a smile of derision on his countenance, he turns 

 towards his younger and unsuccessful comrade, and 

 utters the triumphant shout. 



The young man, goaded by the taunting yell, and 

 anxious to retrieve his fame, presses upon the bull 

 which he had only wounded, more closely than is safe. 

 The irritated bison suddenly turns, and sends both 

 steed and rider rolling on the prairie. The young chief 

 leaps from his fallen horse with the speed of thought, 

 and launches a second arrow at the bull. It is aimed 

 with better success, and the huge quarry falls dead 

 beside the horse. That young chief wdll scarcely dare 

 join the circle round the camp-fire at night. He has 

 had his horse killed under him, he has shot two arrows 

 at the game, and he fears to face the criticism of the 

 old hunter, whose keen eyes marked everything, though 

 his tongue was mute. 



But three hours have passed away in the run, the 

 buffaloes are dispersed, and the hunters are returning 

 from their work of slaughter. The squaws, who have 

 been anxiously looking on, now go forth to commence 

 their disgusting labours of skinning the beasts and 



