h before me. One vivid impression of that instant upon
my mind. I remember looking down upon the backs of several buffalo dimly
visible through the dust. We had run unawares upon a ravine. At that
moment I was not the most accurate judge of depth and width, but when I
passed it on my return, I found it about twelve feet deep and not quite
twice as wide at the bottom. It was impossible to stop; I would have
done so gladly if I could; so, half sliding, half plunging, down went
the little mare. I believe she came down on her knees in the loose sand
at the bottom; I was pitched forward violently against her neck and
nearly thrown over her head among the buffalo, who amid dust and
confusion came tumbling in all around. The mare was on her feet in an
instant and scrambling like a cat up the opposite side. I thought for a
moment that she would have fallen back and crushed me, but with a
violent effort she clambered out and gained the hard prairie above.
Glancing back I saw the huge head of a bull clinging as it were by the
forefeet at the edge of the dusty gulf. At length I was fairly among the
buffalo. They were less densely crowded than before, and I could see
nothing but bulls, who always run at the rear of the herd. As I passed
amid them they would lower their heads, and turning as they ran, attempt
to gore my horse; but as they were already at full speed there was no
force in their onset, and as Pauline ran faster than they, they were
always thrown behind her in the effort.

I soon began to distinguish cows amid the throng. One just in front of
me seemed to my liking, and I pushed close to her side. Dropping the
reins I fired, holding the muzzle of the gun within a foot of her
shoulder. Quick as lightning she sprang at Pauline; the little mare
dodged the attack, and I lost sight of the wounded animal amid the
tumultuous crowd. Immediately after I selected another, and urging
forward Pauline, shot into her both pistols in succession. For a while I
kept her in view, but in attempting to load my gun, lost sight of her
also in the confusion. Believing her to be mortally wounded and unable
to keep up with the herd, I checked my horse. The crowd rushed onward.
The dust and tumult passed away, and on the prairie, far behind the
rest, I saw a solitary buffalo galloping heavily. In a moment I and my
victim were running side by side. My firearms were all empty, and I had
in my pouch nothing but rifle bullets, too large for the pisto