AV THE FAR IVEST. 193 



armed, yet not one of them had been aroused by the uproar 

 created by the advancing hosts. Taking position to the 

 leeward of the camp, \ve commenced firing at them as soon as 

 they came within range, and banged away uninterruptedly for 

 ten minutes, as we feared they might ride down our camp or 

 stampede our horses if they came too close. The firing soon 

 produced its effect, for the herd divided, some going straight 

 ahead, while others plunged into the river and crossed to the 

 opposite side. They were so thick in some parts of the stream 

 that the water looked fairly black with them, and through 

 this they ploughed and rushed in the wildest confusion. This 

 sight was as unusual to us as it was spirited, and we enjoyed it 

 thoroughly. When they vanished from our sight all retired 

 to bed again, except the sentinel on duty, but the novelty and 

 animation of the scene prevented me from wooing gentle 

 slumber for some time. 



We were astir at daybreak the next morning, and, after a 

 hasty breakfast, vaulted into the saddles and started, in search 

 of the slain and wounded. We found them few enough, our 

 fire having killed only six cows and seriously wounded 

 another, but we discovered a solitary old bull roaming about, half 

 a mile away, and we soon had him among our trophies; not 

 because he was deemed palatable, but that he had a magnificent 

 head. 



We next directed our course to the eastward of the camp, 

 and after a ride of two miles came upon several small herds, 

 but beyond these the prairie was almost covered with them. 

 We halted and held a consultation, and it was then decided that 

 our party should divide into three detachments, and that each 

 should take one of the small herds and drive it, if possible, 

 towards the main body, so that we might pick up the meat 

 on the way to camp, and not waste any time in useless riding 

 back and forth. That matter having been settled, the party 

 to which I belonged approached to within a quarter of a mile 

 of the column we had selected, before being detected, but on 

 seeing that we could get no nearer we dashed after it. The 

 race continued at a headlong pace for a mile or more before we 

 were able to overtake the animals, and even then we could only 



o 



