stroke by which to expel them. What it should be, I
could scarcely anticipate. Necessarily, I foresaw, it must be like the
highwayman's challenge, 'Money or life.' After becoming endurable to
her, in fact, inveigling her into unforeseen familiarity, I must
suddenly throw off the mask, and demand the love for which I had waited
and plotted. Either she would surrender, or there would be a tragedy.

The denouement came in a way of which I had no prescience. You will
learn it in the due course of my narrative.

But she charmed me, fearfully, when she appeared, after a morning's
chase, resplendent in the fullness of her healthful beauty, beaming with
excitement, her superb figure undulating gracefully to the restive
movements of her horse. I could have prostrated myself before her, in a
wild worship of her beauty. She had that quality which is so rare in
woman, but so admirable where it exists,--entire fearlessness; for it is
a most absurd mistake to suppose that masculine _virtues_ can not
co-exist in woman with the most lovable, feminine delicacy. Partly her
unblenching courage was the product of a strong will in a splendid
physical organization; partly, alas! it arose from a disregard of life,
which she felt was worthless.

One morning, as we turned our faces homeward, our Indian escort and
baggage having preceded us, we were riding quietly along, with no
intention of hunting, but accidentally coming on a few buffaloes
separated from their herd, the temptation to attack them was too strong
to be resisted. We both urged our horses in pursuit, and, overtaking
them, fired simultaneously at different animals. My wife's quarry--a
stout bull--continued his flight, not being fatally wounded. Suddenly,
some of our Indians who had heard the shot, and started to return, came
into view over the brow of a hill, and the buffalo, thinking himself
surrounded, turned and rushed at my wife. She avoided the onset by a
quick whirl of her horse. The buffalo gathered himself and returned to
the charge with a roar of rage. Not having reloaded my rifle, I spurred
forward, and leaped my steed full upon his massy form. We all fell
together, and when, after several seconds, I extricated myself, my wife
was standing on the buffalo's neck to prevent him from rising. I plunged
my knife into his chest, but in the mad struggle of death he partially
rose, throwing her to the ground, while one of his horns entered her
side. Never before, since I comme