THE BUFFALO. 291 



thirst overcame his fears, and with stately step the kingly 

 brute came on. His course was diagonally across the 

 bottom-land, down the stream, and we neared each other 

 rapidly. 



It seemed impossible for him now to escape us, and at a 

 low signal we ran swiftly forward in front of the wagons, to 

 get squarely across the jiath of his return to the hills. 

 Quickly, as though on a pivot, he turned, and for the first 

 time in our lives we saw the speed of a thoroughly fright- 

 ened Buffalo, as he dashed across the level ground, still far 

 in advance, and, in spite of our flying bullets, gained the 

 hills unscathed. 



The whole western sky was now rapidly filling with 

 angry -looking clouds, and as the sun sank to the horizon, 

 the darkness came on quickly. Reaching the camp-ground, 

 we had only time, after a hurried supper, to put things to 

 rights, and fasten the wagon-covers more securely (for we 

 had no tents), when it grew dark, and the storm burst upon 

 us. Nearly all night it raged. Rain fell in sheets, while 

 the almost incessant flashes of lightning illuminated the 

 wild scene. The cowering horses, arching their backs to the 

 falling rain, turned away from the coming blast, while 

 the great cotton- woods, bowing their stately heads toward 

 the i^lain, writhed and twisted as they wrestled with the 

 gale; and the hunters drew the damp blankets closer around 

 their ears, and wished for the day. 



With the darkness of night the storm passed awa}^ and 

 the morning sun shone brightly on the water-soaked plain. 

 All our plans for the hunt were now changed. Heretofore 

 we liad planned to lie in ambush for the thirsty Buffaloes as 

 they came down from the hot plains to drink; but now, 

 when every ravine ran full of water, and every old Buffalo- 

 wallow was a brimming cistern, it was evident that if we 

 were to secure Buffalo-meat sufficient to load the wagons, 

 we must climb the hills for it. 



M and E accordingly ascended to the southeast, 



Y remained. to take care of camp, and I, shouldering 



the formidable Gallagher, wandered southward. 



