in the band, and a galloping to and fro of some which were scattered along the skirts, gave us the intimation that we were discovered.  We started together at a hand gallop, riding steadily abreast of each other, and here the interest of the chase became so engrossingly intense, that we were sensible to nothing else.  We were now closing upon them rapidly, and the front of the mass was already in rapid motion for the hills, and in a few seconds the movement had communicated itself to the whole herd.

“A crowd of bulls, as usual, brought up the rear, and every now and then some of them faced about, and then dashed on after the band a short distance, and turned and looked again, as if more than half inclined to stand and fight.  In a few moments, however, during which we had been quickening our pace, the rout was universal, and we were going over the ground like a hurricane.  When at about thirty yards, we gave the usual shout (the hunter’s battle cry) and broke into the herd.  We entered on the side, the mass giving way in every direction in their heedless course.  Many of the bulls, less active and less fleet than the cows, paying no attention to the ground, and occupied solely with the hunter were precipitated to the earth with great force, rolling over and over with the violence of the shock, and hardly distinguishable in the dust.  We separated on entering, each singling out his game.

“My horse was a trained hunter, famous in the west under the name of Proveau, and, with his eyes flashing, and the foam flying from his mouth, sprang on after the cow like a tiger.  In a few moments he brought me alongside of her, and, rising in the stirrups, I fired at the distance of a yard, the ball entering at the termination of the long hair, and passing near the heart.  She fell headlong at the report of the gun, and checking my horse, I looked around for my companions.  At a little distance, Kit was on the ground, engaged in tying his horse to the horns of a cow which he was preparing to cut up.  Among the scattered bands, at some distance below, I caught a glimpse of Maxwell; and while I was looking, a light wreath of white smoke curled away from his gun, from which I was too far to hear the report.  Nearer, and between me and the hills, towards which they were directing their course, was the body of the herd, and giving my horse the rein, we dashed after them.  A thick cloud of dust hung upon their rear, which filled my mouth and eyes, and nearly smothered me.  In the midst of this I could see nothing, and the buffalo were not distinguishable until within thirty feet.  They crowded together more densely still as I came upon them, and rushed along in such a compact body, that I could not obtain an entrance—­the horse almost leaping upon them.  In a few moments the mass divided to the right and left, the horns clattering with a noise heard above everything else, and my horse darted into the opening.  Five or six bulls charged on us as