American Big-Game Hunting 



than one instance is recorded where an In- 

 dian sent an arrow entirely through the bod- 

 ies of two buffalo. Sometimes such a hunt 

 was signalized by some feat of daring bra- 

 vado that, save in the seeing, was scarcely 

 credible, as when the Cheyenne Big Ribs 

 rode his horse close up to the side of a huge 

 bull, and, springing on his back, rode the 

 savage beast for some distance, and then 

 with his knife gave him the death-stroke. Or 

 a man might find himself in a position of 

 comical danger, as did "The Trader" who 

 was thrown from his horse on to the horns 

 of a bull without being injured. One of 

 the horns passed under his belt and sup- 

 ported him, and at the same time prevented 

 the bull from tossing him. In this way he 

 was carried for some distance on the animal's 

 head, when the belt gave way and he fell 

 to the ground unhurt, while the bull ran 

 on. There were occasions when buffalo or 

 horses fell in front of horsemen riding at 

 full run, and when a fall was avoided only 

 by leaping one's horse over the fallen animal. 

 In the buffalo chase of old days it was well 

 for a man to keep his wits about him ; for, 



