Thus they advanced until they closed in on their prey and formed an unbroken circle round them, whilst the poor brutes kept eddying and surging to and fro in a confused mass, hooking and climbing upon each other, and bellowing furiously.  Suddenly the horsemen made a rush, and the work of destruction began.  The tremendous turmoil raised a cloud of dust that obscured the field in some places, and hid it from our hunters’ view.  Some of the Indians galloped round and round the circle, sending their arrows whizzing up to the feathers in the sides of the fattest cows.  Others dashed fearlessly into the midst of the black heaving mass, and, with their long lances, pierced dozens of them to the heart.  In many instances the buffaloes, infuriated by wounds, turned fiercely on their assailants and gored the horses to death, in which cases the men had to trust to their nimble legs for safety.  Sometimes a horse got jammed in the centre of the swaying mass, and could neither advance nor retreat.  Then the savage rider leaped upon the buffaloes’ backs, and springing from one to another, like an acrobat, gained the outer edge of the circle; not failing, however, in his strange flight, to pierce with his lance several of the fattest of his stepping-stones as he sped along.

A few of the herd succeeded in escaping from the blood and dust of this desperate battle, and made off over the plains; but they were quickly overtaken, and the lance or the arrow brought them down on the green turf.  Many of the dismounted riders were chased by bulls; but they stepped lightly to one side, and, as the animals passed, drove their arrows deep into their sides.  Thus the tumultuous war went on, amid thundering tread, and yell, and bellow, till the green plain was transformed into a sea of blood and mire, and every buffalo of the herd was laid low.

It is not to be supposed that such reckless warfare is invariably waged without damage to the savages.  Many were the wounds and bruises received that day, and not a few bones were broken, but happily no lives were lost.

“Now, lads, now’s our time.  A bold and fearless look’s the best at all times.  Don’t look as if ye doubted their friendship; and mind, wotever ye do, don’t use yer arms.  Follow me.”

Saying this, Joe Blunt leaped on his horse, and, bounding over the ridge at full speed, galloped headlong across the plain.

The savages observed the strangers instantly, and a loud yell announced the fact as they assembled from all parts of the field brandishing their bows and spears.  Joe’s quick eye soon distinguished their chief, towards whom he galloped, still at full speed, till within a yard or two of his horse’s head; then he reined up suddenly.  So rapidly did Joe and his comrades approach, and so instantaneously did they pull up, that their steeds were thrown almost on their haunches.