IN THE FAR WEST. 195 



was evidently prepared for this action, for he turned abruptly to 

 the left, and by the time the enraged bull got to where he had 

 been standing* he was several yards away in another direction. 

 I ehecked him in a few moments, however, and charged the 

 veteran at full speed, and rushing past him gave him two shots 

 in the head, and when I wheeled about again I saw him stag- 

 gering; and in less than a minute he fell dead. I need not 

 say I was glad of it, for my head seemed to be splitting, and I 

 wished very much to see if it were whole or in parts. After a 

 short examination I learned that there were no unusual inden- 

 tations in it, and this put me in better humour than I had been. 



Not seeing any wolves on the plain, I left my trophy where 

 it fell, and threw a handkerchief marked with my initials over 

 it, so that other hunters might know to whom it belonged ; 

 for I was most anxious to preserve the head, on account of its 

 size, the thickness of the matted hair, and the length and 

 fulness of the horns. I next marked the position by taking 

 bearings and noting the character of all surrounding objects, 

 a precaution, I may add, which is rendered necessary if one 

 would not lose the fruits of the chase, for in a region where 

 one spot is almost exactly like another, a person must closely 

 scan every little detail that would give it an individuality by 

 which he could recognize it. 



After marking the place carefully in my memory, I mounted, 

 and rode on, and as I moved along I noticed my companions 

 running herds in every direction, and firing away for dear life ; 

 but as I wanted sport, not meat, I did not join them. AVhen I 

 reached the heavy columns, however, I concluded to have some 

 runs alone, if the others did not come up within half an hour ; 

 and as they did not, I selected a herd which contained, I should 

 imagine, about five thousand, and dashed at it from cover when 

 within an eighth of a mile of it. The majority of this herd 

 was evidently composed of adult bulls, which cannot at all 

 compare in speed with the cows, calves, or the younger mem- 

 bers of their own sex, hence I had little trouble in overtaking 

 them. When I started in pursuit the vast assemblage visible 

 in every direction seemed to be in a state of commotion, and 

 fearing I might get entangled in it, I ran to the front of the 



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