CHAPTER XI 



THE SECOND BUFFALO HUNT 



Though so trifling, the success of our first Buffalo hunt 

 gave us quite a social lift. The chiefs were equally 

 surprised with the whites, and when we prepared for 

 a second expedition, Kiya sent word that though he 

 could not act as guide, I should ride his own trained 

 hunter, a horse that could run a trail like a hound, and 

 was without guile. 



I am always suspicious of a horse (or man) without 

 guile. I wondered what was the particular weakness 

 of this exceptionally trained, noble, and guileless 

 creature. I have only one prejudice in horse-flesh — I 

 do not like a white one. So, of course, when the hunter 

 arrived he was white as marble, from mane to tail and 

 hoofs ; his very eyes were of a cheap china colour, sug- 

 gestive of cataractine blindness. The only relief was a 

 morbid tinge of faded shrimp pink in his nostrils and 

 ears. But he proved better than he looked. He cer- 

 tainly did run tracks by nose like a hound, provided I 

 let him choose the track. He was a lively walker and 

 easy trotter, and would stay where the bridle was 

 dropped. So I came to the conclusion that Kiya was 

 not playing a joke on me, but really had lent me his 

 best hunter, whose sepulchral whiteness I could see 

 would be of great advantage in snow time when chiefly 

 one is supposed to hunt. 



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