, made an instant attack upon it. To my surprise, it seemed to
fight its way through them, and soon joined the herd and was lost to
view among them. I thought no more of it, and was wondering how much
longer I would have to wait for the signal, when I noticed that the
buffaloes were lying down one after another.

In a few minutes eight or ten were stretched upon the turf, and I
observed that they fell suddenly as if shot, and some of them appeared
to kick and struggle violently. I had heard of a curious habit of these
animals known as "wallowing," and concluded this must be it. As I had
never witnessed this manoeuvre, I watched them as attentively as
possible, but the high grass prevented me from seeing much. At all
events, I thought, the "surround" will be complete before they get ready
to move, and I waited patiently for the signal.

The buffaloes still continued to lie down one after another, and at
length the last one of the herd stretched himself upon the prairie. At
this instant the shrill notes of the Indian whistle reached my ears, and
a wild yell arose from all sides of the prairie. I urged my horse
forward; a hundred others had done the same, all yelling at the top of
their voices as they shot out of the thicket. Filled with the wild
excitement incident to such a scene, I galloped forward with my bow
strung and arrows ready, intent upon having the first shot. To my
surprise the buffaloes did not stir. The Indians closed in, yelling as
they came, and we pulled up our horses in the very midst of the
prostrate herd. I sat upon my horse as if spell-bound, looking about me
in consternation and wonder. Before me lay the bodies of the buffaloes,
and I seized with a superstitious awe when I perceived that every one of
them was dead or dying. Blood flowed from their mouths and nostrils, and
from wounds in the side of each the red stream trickled down. The
prairie carpet was dyed with it.

My companions seemed at first as much surprised as myself, but some of
the more astute quickly divined the mystery and commenced looking about
with keen scrutiny. Suddenly the renegade urged his horse forward, and
on turning to see what he had discovered, I saw the buffalo calf, whose
existence I had for a time forgotten. The calf had been concealed behind
the carcass of one of the buffaloes, but now appeared to be endeavoring
to make off into the timber.

Hissodecha rode up to it, evidently intending to pierce it with his
lance,