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Show 258 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. them, for as we descended the hill other objects engrossed my attention. Numerous old bulls were scattered over the plain, and ungallantly deserting their charge at our approach, began to wade and plunge through the treacherous quicksands of the THE HUNTING CAMP. 259 the ground. I-Iere and there wounded buffalo were standing, their bleeding sides feathered with arrows ; and as I rode past them their eyes would glare, they would bristle like gigantic cats, and feebly attempt to rush up and gore my stream, and gallop away towards the hills. One old veteran horse. was struggling behind all the rest with one of his fore-legs, which had been broken by some accident, dangling about uselessly at his side. His appearance, as he went shambling along on three legs, was so ludicrous that I could not help pausing for a moment to look at him. As I came near, he would try to rush upon me, nearly throwing himself down at every awkward attempt. Looking up, I saw the whole body of Indians full an hundred yards in advance. I lashed Pauline in pursuit and reached them but just in time ; for as we mingled among them, each hunter, as if by a common impulse, violently struck his horse, each horse sp~·ang forward convulsively, and scattering in the charge in order to assail the entire herd at once, we all rushed headlong upon the buffalo. We were among them in an instant. Amid the trampling and the yells I could see their dark figures running hither and thither through clouds of dust, and the horsemen darting in pursuit. While we were charging on one side, our companions had attacked the bewildered and panic-stricken herd on the other. The uproar and confusion lasted but for a moment. The dust cleared away, and the buffalo could be seen scattering as from a common centre, flying over the plain singly, or in long files and small compact bodies, while behind each followed the Indians, lashing their ho~ses to futious speed, forcing them close upon their prey, and yelling as they launched arrow after arrow into their sides. The large black carcasses were strewn thickly over , I left camp that morning with a philosophic resolution. Neither I nor my horse were at that time fit for such sport, and I had determined to remain a quiet spectator; but amid the rush of horses and buffalo, the uproar and the dust, I found it impossible to sit still; and as four or five buffalo ran past me in a line, I drove Pauline in pursuit. We went plunging close at their heels through the water and the quicksands, and clambering the bank, chased them through the wild sage-bushes that covered the rising ground beyond. But neithe1· her native spirit nor the • blows of the knotted bull-hide could supply the place of poor Pauline's exhausted strength. We could not gain an inch upon the poor fugitives. At last, however, they came full upon a ravine too wide to leap over; and as this compelled them to turn abruptly to the left, I contrived to get within ten or twelve yards of the hindmost. At this she faced about, bristled angrily, and made a show of charging. I shot at her with a large holster pistol, and hit her somewhere in the neck. Down she tumbled into the ravine, whither her cmnpanions had descended before her. I saw their dark backs appearing and disappearing as they galloped along the bottom; then one by h . ' one, t ey came scramblmg out on the other side ' and ran of f as be 1/.'. ore, t h e wounded ani.m al followm. g W.i th . unabated speed. Turning back, I saw Raymond coming on his black mule to meet me ; and as we rode over the field together, we count- |