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Show 98 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. morning with a common snaffle, having the day before, for the benefit of my other horse, unbuckled from my bridle the curb which I ordinarily used. A stronger and hardier brute never trod the prairie ; but the novel sight of the buffalo filled him with terror, and when at full speed he was almost incontrollable. Gaining the top of the ridge, I saw nothing of the buffalo; they had all vanished amid the intricacies of the hills and hollows. Reloading my pistols, in the best way I could, I galloped on until I saw them again scuttling along at the base of the hill, their panic somewhat abated. Down went old Pontiac among them, scattering them to the right and left, and then we had another long chase. About a dozen bulls were before us, scouring over the hills, rushing down the de eli vi ties with tre· mendous weight and impetuosity, and then laboring with a weary gallop upward. Still Pontiac, in spite of spurring and beating, would not close with them. One bull at length fell a little behind the rest, and by dint of much effort, I urged my horse within six or eight yards of his side. I-Iis back was darkened with sweat: he was panting heavily, while his tongue lolled out a foot from his jaws. Gradually I came up abreast of him, urging Pontiac with leg and rein nearer to his side, when suddenly he did what buffalo in such circumstances will al~ays do; he slackened his gallop, and turning toward us, With an aspect of mingled rage and distress, lowered his huge s.h aggy head for a charge. Pontiac with a snort leaped aside ' ' In terror ' nearly thr o, v m· g me to t he ground, as · I wn.s whol 1Y u.n prepared for such a n evo 1u tw· n. I rai.s ed my pistol 1. n a pas-swn to strike him on th e h ea d, b ut thm. km. g better of it fired the bullet after the bull ' wh o 11 a d resumed his fliaht · th' en drew . d 5 ' rem, an determined to rejoin my companions. It was high THE BUFFALO. 99 time. The breath blew hard from Pontiac's nostrils, and the sweat rolled in big drops down his sides; I myself felt as if drenched in warm water. Pledging myself (and I redeemed the pledge) to take my revenge at a future opportunity, I looked round for some indications to show me where I was, and what course I ought to pursue; I might as well hn.ve looked for landmarks in the midst of the ocean. How many miles I had run, or in what direction, I had no idea; and around me the prairie was rolling in steep swells and pitches, without a single distinctive feature to guide me. I had a little compass hung at my neck; and ignorant that the Platte at this point diverged considerably from its easterly course, I thought that by keeping to the northward I should certainly reach it. So I turned and rode about two hours in that direction. The prairie changed as I. advanced, softening away into easier undulations, but nothing hke the Platte appeared, nor any sign of a human being; the same wild endless expanse lay around me still; and to all appearance I wn.s as far from my object as ever. I beaan now to c;onsider myself in danger of beino- lost · and t~erefore . . 0 ' ' remmg in my h . d h 01 se, summone t e scanty share of woodcraft that .I possessed (if that term be applicable upon the prairie) to extncate me. Looking round, it occurred to me that the buffalo might prove my best guides. I soon found one of the paths m. ade by th e~ I·n t h e1· r passage to the n.v er; 1. t ran nearly at nght anO'les t b · . o o my course; ut turnmg my horse's head in the dnection it ind 1· ca t e d , h I·s f reer gar.t and erected ears assured me that I was right. But in the mean t1' me my n· d e had been by no means a soli-ta. r y one · Th e w h ol e .mc ce of the country wn.s dotted far and Wide with count I ess l1 undreds of buffalo. They trooped along |