In Buffalo Days 



two forward and then stopped again, and 

 the rider scanned every foot of country 

 before him. The horse, trained as the real 

 hunter's horse is always trained, understood 

 what was required of him, and with pricked 

 ears examined the prairie beyond with as 

 much interest as did his rider. When the 

 calf of Charley's right leg pressed the 

 horse's side, two or three steps more were 

 taken, and then a lifting of the bridle-hand 

 caused another halt. 



At length I saw my companion slowly 

 bend forward over his horse's neck, turn, and 

 ride back to me. He had seen the backs of 

 two buffalo lying on the edge of a little flat 

 hardly a quarter of a mile from where we 

 stood. The others of the band must be still 

 nearer to us. By riding along the lowest 

 part of the sag which separated the two 

 buttes, and then down a little ravine, it 

 seemed probable that we could come within 

 a few yards of the buffalo unobserved. Our 

 preparations did not take long. The saddle 

 cinches were loosened, blankets arranged, 

 saddles put in their proper places and tightly 

 cinched ao-ain. Cartrido-es were brougrht 



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