udly. I fully expected to be trampled to death before many minutes
had passed, or to be tossed high in the air over their shaggy backs. My
horse, looking up, saw his danger, and seemed to understand the state of
affairs as well as I did. He made desperate struggles to rise; and I
endeavoured to get on my feet and seize the reins, hoping to mount
before the herd was upon me. I might thus gallop off, and keep ahead of
them till I could find an opportunity of turning on one side.

I rose, but fell again before I could reach the reins which hung over my
steed's neck. Already I could almost see the eyes of the infuriated
beasts; but I was not going to give up my life if I could help it. I
therefore made another desperate effort, and reaching the rein, patted
the animal's nose, turning his eyes away from the approaching foe; then
in an instant--I scarcely know how I did it--I was on his back.

I was fully aware that the same accident which had brought me to the
ground might again occur; but of that I must run the risk. Before,
however, my horse could spring forward, the herd was close upon us.
Digging my heels into his flanks, I urged him on, shrieking at the top
of my voice. The sound of the tramping hoofs behind him, the bellowing
of the bulls, and the expectation every instant of being probed by their
horns, made him strain every muscle to keep ahead of them. His speed
was far greater than theirs, and he soon distanced them; but still, the
danger of again falling was imminent, for as we flew along I could see
in every direction the burrows of those abominable little prairie dogs,
though the inhabitants had taken good care to ensconce themselves far
down out of the way of the hoofs of the buffalo. Looking over my
shoulder, I saw that by turning to the right I might soon get clear of
the herd, which did not extend far on that side. I accordingly pulled
the right rein, so as to ride almost across the course the herd was
taking; and observed, as I did so, a number of the Indians galloping
along by the side of the buffalo, and shooting their arrows.

I was congratulating myself on the prospect of escaping, when down came
my steed once more; and as I was as unprepared for the accident as
before, I was thrown over his head, and more severely injured than at
first. Still, though partly stunned, I could see what was taking place.
I fancied that I was, at all events, sufficiently to the right of the
herd to escape being