n him, they would
have carried off the lasso and stake. We shall hear more about this
some day; but I only hope the whites got safe off."

Coiling up the lasso with the stake, Pat hung it over his shoulders.

"If any buffalo are in the neighbourhood, they are likely to visit this
meadow," he observed; "and if we see any, won't we--" And he made signs
of biting away with his teeth so furiously that I could not help
laughing at his grimaces.

"Come! that's right, Masther David. It's a great thing to keep up one's
spirits, especially on an empty stomach."

We were proceeding along the edge of a wood which bordered the meadow,
when we caught sight of several dark spots. By keeping close under the
trees we got still nearer to them, when to our infinite satisfaction we
discovered that they were buffaloes.

So busily were they feeding that they did not see us, but they were
still too far out from the cover to allow us to get a shot at one of
them; starving as we were, it was a matter of the greatest importance
not to allow them to escape.

In summer, with proper precautions, when the grass was long, we might
have managed to creep over the ground without being discovered by the
animals, but with the white mantle which now lay on the ground we should
be certain to be seen.

We remained hid behind some bushes, Pat's mouth watering with the
thoughts of the buffalo meat he hoped to obtain, and my hand trembling
with anxiety. Though we could not approach the animals, they might draw
nearer to us. We were still waiting in the expectation of their doing
this, when another buffalo appeared on the scene, and bellowing loudly
approached the herd. They retreated towards the wood, but still at a
distance from where we were, when a bull advanced from among them to
meet the newcomer. The latter bellowed still more loudly, and was
answered by his antagonist.

In another minute the horns of the two animals were crashing furiously
together.

"Now is our time," I cried, and rushing forward with Pat's gun in my
hand, I approached the combatants. Pat followed, keeping somewhat to
the right of me.

I had got to within about thirty yards of the two animals, who were
moving about now on one side and now on the other with the greatest
rapidity, so that it would not be very easy, I knew, to hit a vital
part.

Dropping on my knee, that I might take a steadier aim, I raised my rifle
and fired at one of the buffaloes, which at that