The Last of the BuffaU 



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 Httle 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 Uttle ra- 

 vine, it seemed probable that we could 

 come within a few yards of the buffalo un- 

 observed. Our preparations did not take 

 long. The saddle cinches w^ere loosened, 

 blankets arranged, saddles put in their 

 proper places and tightly cinched again. 

 Cartridges were brought round to the front 

 and right of the belt, where thev ^vould 

 be convenient for reloading. Our coats 

 tied behind the saddle were looked to, the 

 strings which held them being tightened 

 and securely retied. All this was not lost 

 on our horses, which understood as well 

 as we did what was coming, ^^'e skirted 

 the butte, rode through the low sag and 

 down into the little ravine, which soon 

 grew deeper, so that our heads were below 

 the range of vision of almost anything on 



