ared; on the contrary, they
went off, apparently indignant at being disturbed in their fight; and
every now and then both came round with short turnings, snorted, and
struck the prairie with their hoofs in a violent and angry manner.

Once or twice, I fancied they were going to charge upon me; and had I
been otherwise than well mounted, I should have been very chary of
risking such an encounter. A more formidable pair of antagonists, as
far as appearance went, could not have been well conceived. Their huge
size, their shaggy fronts, and fierce glaring eyeballs, gave them a wild
and malicious seeming, which was heightened by their bellowing, and the
threatening attitudes in which they continually placed themselves.

Feeling quite safe in my saddle, I galloped up to the nearest, and sent
my bullet into his ribs. It did the work. He fell to his knees--rose
again--spread out his legs, as if to prevent a second fall--rocked from
side to side like a cradle--again came to his knees; and after remaining
in this position for some minutes, with the blood running from his
nostrils, rolled quietly over on his shoulder, and lay dead.

I had watched these manoeuvres with interest, and permitted the second
bull to make his escape; a side-glance had shown me the latter
disappearing over the crest of the swell.

I did not care to follow him, as my horse was somewhat jaded, and I knew
it would cost me a sharp gallop to come up with him again; so I thought
no more of him at that time, but alighted, and prepared to deal with the
one already slain.

There stood a solitary tree near the spot--it was a stunted cotton-wood.
There were others upon the prairie, but they were distant; this one was
not twenty yards from the carcass. I led my horse up to it, and taking
the trail-rope from the horn of the saddle, made one end fast to the
bit-ring, and the other to the tree. I then went back, drew my knife,
and proceeded to cut up the buffalo.

I had hardly whetted my blade, when a noise from behind caused me to
leap to an upright attitude, and look round; at the first glance, I
comprehended the noise. A huge dark object was passing the crest of the
ridge, and rushing down the hill towards the spot where I stood. It was
the buffalo-bull, the same that had just left me.

The sight, at first thought, rather pleased me than otherwise. Although
I did not want any more meat, I should have the triumph of carrying two
tongues instead of one