o the
ground.

Pat lost not a moment in scampering off, but he had only just time to
reach the tree, and to climb up onto the bough from which he had
descended, when the buffalo's horns struck the trunk just below his
feet.

"It will be all right now, Masther David," shouted Pat; "don't be afther
throubling yourself more about the matter."

As he said this I saw that he was uncoiling his lasso, and forming a
noose at the end. He then took his seat on the bough in an attitude
which would enable him to throw it with certainty.

The buffalo, however, was not to be so easily caught. Again and again
it retreated, charging up to the tree, and rushing round it, without
affording Pat an opportunity of letting the noose drop over its head.

At last the animal came close under where Pat was sitting. He dropped
the noose, and giving the lasso a jerk, brought it over the animal's
horns and completely round its neck.

No sooner did the buffalo find itself adorned with this somewhat tight
cravat--an article of dress to which it was not accustomed--than it
began to pull away with all its might; but of course the harder it
hauled the tighter became the noose, till, almost strangled, it rushed
towards the tree with the idea, apparently, that it would thus be able
to liberate itself.

"Now's your time, Masther David," cried Pat; "you can pick up your
powder-horn and soon settle with the baste."

Slipping from the tree, I hurried towards where I had dropped the
powder-horn, guided by the traces of my feet; and recovering it,
immediately reloaded my rifle. Pat shouted to me to make haste, as he
was afraid that the buffalo would break loose. I, of course, was not
likely to delay longer than I could help. Stopping within a dozen paces
of the buffalo, which eyed me as I approached, I lifted my rifle to my
shoulder, and fired.

The buffalo, a moment before bellowing with rage and exhibiting its
mighty strength, at that instant sank down to the ground; and before
Pat, who had slipped from the tree, had time to plunge his hunting-knife
into its throat, the monster was dead.

The remainder of the buffaloes had taken to flight, leaving us masters
of the field and in possession of two fine animals. We had, therefore,
only to cut off the humps and extract the tongues, which are considered
the most delicate morsels, intending, however, to secure a larger
portion as soon as we had satisfied our hunger. Choosing a spot close
to th