moment presented its
side to me. It was in the act of making a rush at its opponent, but
fell before their horns met, when the other immediately rushed at it,
leaping over the prostrate body of its foe.

I was about to reload my rifle, when the victorious buffalo caught sight
of Pat and me, and throwing up the snow with its hoofs, and bellowing
with rage, it dashed towards us.

"Run for a tree! run for a tree!" cried Pat, "or the baste will be upon
us;" and suiting the action to the word, he made towards one at no great
distance off. I, following his example, ran in the direction of one
which appeared somewhat nearer to me. As I began to move, I felt
something slip from my fingers. It was my powder-flask! Fortunately I
had not yet withdrawn the cork. I had to run as fast as I had been
compelled to do when escaping from the elk, with the bellowing buffalo
close to my heels.

I had barely time to swing myself into the tree, when the enraged animal
was up to me.

The buffalo dashed forward for some paces, when, not seeing me in front,
it turned up its eyes and espied me a few feet only above its head; on
this it made a furious charge at the tree, which shook so that I feared
it would be uprooted or broken off by the force of its blows.

I shouted to Pat to make a diversion in my favour.

"I'll do it if I have the chance," he answered; "but why don't you shoot
the baste?"

I told him that I had lost my powder-horn, and that my rifle was
unloaded.

All this time the buffalo was going round and round the tree, charging
at it, now on one side, now on the other. This it continued doing for
what appeared to me a very long time.

Sometimes it retired to a short distance, but it was to return again
with its rage seemingly increased.

The tree, which was but a large sapling, trembled to the very roots, and
I had to hold on tightly to escape being shaken off.

I entreated Pat to shout, and try to attract the attention of the savage
brute.

At last I saw him descending from his tree, and approaching cautiously,
in an attitude which showed that he was ready at any moment to beat a
rapid retreat. As he got nearer, he began to shout at the top of his
voice, clapping his hands. Then he took out a red handkerchief and
waved it. The buffalo did not at first observe him, but as soon as it
caught sight of the red handkerchief, with a loud bellow it went
charging my companion at headlong speed, with its horns close t