was addressed to Hawkswing, who was
quietly putting on his wolf-skin. Although too slow for the hasty
spirit of Gibault, the Indian was quick enough for all useful purposes.
In three minutes he was in the clump of poplar trees behind which the
buffaloes were reported to be feeding, and in another minute he was out
upon the plain creeping towards his victims, while the rest of the party
were again huddled together behind a bush, looking on with deep interest
and breathless attention.

Gradually and slowly the Indian crept towards the buffaloes, pausing and
snuffing about from time to time as if he were a veritable wolf in
search of something to eat. At last he had approached near enough to
the herd to attract their attention, but scarcely near enough to make
sure of bringing one down. The huge unwieldy creatures looked up
inquiringly for a moment, but, seeing only a solitary enemy, they
scorned to take further notice of him, and went on feeding.

Hawkswing paused within a few yards of the side of a fat sleek animal,
and slowly raised his pistol. The trappers held their breath, and
Bertram uttered a low groan of anxiety. One moment more and a white
puff was followed by a loud crack, and a bellow, as the horror-stricken
buffaloes tossed up their heels and fled wildly from the spot, leaving
one of their number in the agonies of death upon the plain.

The knife of the Indian hastened its end, and with a rush and a yell of
delight the whole party fell upon the luckless animal.

It was a wonderful sight to see, the way in which these experienced men
flayed and cut up that buffalo! Hawkswing, without taking time to
remove his wolf-skin covering, commenced upon the head and speedily cut
out the tongue--a more difficult operation than inexperienced persons
would suppose. Redhand and Bounce began at the shoulders, and Big
Waller and Gibault fell to work upon the flanks. March Marston seized
his axe, and hastening into the bluff felled a dead pine and kindled a
fire. As for Bertram, he sat down to sketch the whole with a degree of
prompt facility and gusto, that showed the habit had become second
nature to him.

The way in which these men wielded their bloody knives, flayed and
sliced, dismembered and divided that buffalo, is past belief--almost
beyond description. Each man threw off his capote and tucked up his
shirt-sleeves to the elbows, and very soon each had on a pair of bright
red gauntlets. And the bloody ap