k with buffaloes! Tens of thousands must have been in the drove
which was passing us to a great depth on both sides. They were running
at a fast trot--some of them even galloping, and in some places they
were so thickly packed together, that one would be seen mounting upon
the hind-quarters of the other, while some were thrown down, and
trampled over by their companions.

"Hyur, hyur, all of ye!" cried Ike, "stand by hyur, or they'll git into
the hole, and tramp us to shucks!"

We saw at a glance the meaning of these instructions. The excited
animals were rushing headlong, and nothing seemed to stay their course.
We could see them dashing into and across the little streamlet without
making any account of it. Should they pour into the circle in which we
stood, others would follow, and we might get mingled with the drove.
There was not a spot on the prairie where we could have been safe. The
impetuous mass was impelled from behind, and could neither halt nor
change its course. Already a pair of bulls had fallen before the rifles
of our guides, and to some extent prevented the others from breaking
over the ring, but they would certainly have done so had it not been for
the shouts and gestures of the trappers. We rushed to the side
indicated, and each of us prepared to fire, but some of the more prudent
held their loads for a while, others pulled trigger, and a succession of
shots from rifles, double-barrels, and revolvers soon raised a pile of
dead buffaloes that blocked up the passage of the rest, as though it had
been a barrier built on purpose.

A breathing space was now allowed us, and each loaded his piece as fast
as he was able. There was no time lost in firing, for the stream of
living creatures swept on continuously, and a mark was found in a single
glance of the eye.

I think we must have continued the loading and firing for nearly a
quarter of an hour. Then the great herd began to grow thinner and
thinner, until the last buffalo had passed.

We now looked around us to contemplate the result. The ground on every
side of the circle was covered with dark hirsute forms, but upon that
where we stood a perfect mass of them lay together. These forms were in
every attitude, some stretched on their sides, others upon their knees,
and still a number upon their feet, but evidently wounded.

Some of us were about to rush out of our charmed circle to complete the
work, but were held back by the warning voices