the night in his lodge. Having informed the old
man that this was no ordinary occasion, and that he would be expected
to do the job up right, I returned to the Post.

When the day set for the Grand Duke's arrival came there was a brave
array at the station to meet him. Captain Hays and myself had five or
six ambulances to carry his party, Captain Egan was on hand with a
company of cavalry and twenty extra saddle-horses, and the whole
population of the place was gathered to see the great man from Russia.

The train came in, and from it stepped General Sheridan. A fine figure
of a man was towering above him. This was the visitor.

I was presented to the Grand Duke as Buffalo Bill, the man who would
have charge of the hunt. I immediately ordered up the saddle-horse I
had selected for the nobleman, also a fine horse for General Sheridan.
Both men decided to ride for a few miles before they took seats in the
ambulances.

When the whole party was mounted they started south, Texas Jack acting
as guide until such time as I could overtake them. The Grand Duke was
very much interested in the whole proceeding, particularly in the
Indians. It was noticed that he cast frequent and admiring glances at a
handsome red-skinned maiden who accompanied old Spotted Tail's
daughter. When we made camp my titled guest plied me with questions
about buffaloes and how to kill them. He wanted to know whether a gun
or a pistol was the proper weapon and whether I would be sure to supply
him with a horse that was trained in buffalo hunting.

I told him that I would give him Buckskin Joe, the best buffalo horse
in the country, and that all he would need to do would be to mount the
animal and fire away every time he saw a buffalo.

At nine o'clock in the morning we were all galloping over the prairies
in search of big game. I waited till everyone was ready, and then led
the party over a little knoll that hid the herd from view. In a few
minutes we were among the buffaloes.

Alexis first chose to use his pistol. He sent six shots in rapid
succession after one bull, at a distance of only twenty feet, but he
fired wildly, and did no damage whatever. I rode up to his side, and,
his pistol having been emptied, gave him mine. He seized it and fired
six more shots, but not a buffalo fell.

I saw that he was pretty sure to come home empty-handed if he continued
this sort of pistol practice. So I gave him my old "Lucretia" and told
him to urge his hor