the prairie, and can scent a hunter a great distance, if to windward.

5. The ring being formed, two or three ride toward the horses, which start
off in an opposite direction. Whenever they approach the bounds of the
ring, however, a huntsman presents himself, and turns them from their
course. In this way they are checked, and driven back at every point, and
kept galloping round and round this magic circle, until, being completely
tired down, it is easy for hunters to ride up beside them and throw the
lariat over their heads. The prime horses of the most speed, courage, and
bottom, however, are apt to break through and escape, so that, in general,
it is the second-rate horses that are taken.

6. Preparations were now made for a hunt of this kind. The pack horses
were now taken into the woods and firmly tied to trees, lest in a rush of
the wild horses they should break away. Twenty-five men were then sent
under the command of a lieutenant to steal along the edge of the valley
within the strip of wood that skirted the hills. They were to station
themselves about fifty yards apart, within the edge of the woods, and not
advance or show themselves until the horses dashed in that direction.
Twenty-five men were sent across the valley to steal in like manner along
the river bank that bordered the opposite side, and to station themselves
among the trees.

7. A third party of about the same number was to form a line, stretching
across the lower part of the valley, so as to connect the two wings.
Beatte and our other half-breed, Antoine, together with the ever-officious
Tonish, were to make a circuit through the woods so as to get to the upper
part of the valley, in the rear of the horses, and drive them forward into
the kind of sack that we had formed, while the two wings should join
behind them and make a complete circle.

8. The flanking parties were quietly extending themselves out of sight, on
each side of the valley, and the residue were stretching themselves like
the links of a chain across it, when the wild horses gave signs that they
scented an enemy; snuffing the air, snorting, and looking about. At length
they pranced off slowly toward the river, and disappeared behind a green
bank.

9. Here, had the regulations of the chase been observed, they would have
been quietly checked and turned back by the advance of a hunter from among
the trees. Unluckily, however, we had our wildfire, Jack-o'-lantern little
Frenchman to