one
of them. I don't say as they can't be eaten, cos the Indians eat them;
and, for the matter of that, I have ate them myself. But they have to be
killed plump dead, and then the stink-bag has to be cut out from them
directly; but if you ain't hard pressed for food, I advise you to let
skunks alone."

The first time that they came across a large herd of buffalo was a day
Frank long remembered. He was out with the four hunters; they had just
scampered to the top of one of the swells, when they simultaneously
reined in their horses, for the valley--half a mile wide--in front of
them was filled with a dark mass of moving animals, extending back for
two or three miles.

"There, Frank," Abe said, "there is meat for you--enough for an army for
months."

Frank was too surprised to speak for a time; the number seemed
countless.

"What a wonderful sight!" he exclaimed at last.

"Ay, that it is, lad, to one who has never seen it afore; and to think
that thar are scores of herds like that out on these plains. It's one of
the mightiest sights of natur. But it's nothing to see 'em now, going
along quiet, to what it is to see 'em when they are on the stampede,
when the ground shakes with thar tread, and the air seems in a quiver
with thar bellowing; thar don't seem nothing as could stop 'em, and thar
ain't. If it's a river, they pours into it; if it's a bluff, they goes
over it, and tens of thousands of them gets killed. The Injins is mighty
wasteful of thar flesh, but I doubt whether all the Injins in the
continent kills as many as kills themselves in them wild stampedes. We
will just wait where we are until they are past, and then we will drop
down on 'em and cut three or four of 'em off. We will take one apiece;
that will give us as much flesh as the waggons can load up, and I don't
hold to taking life unless the meat's wanted. Now, lad, all that you
have got to do is, when you ride down just single out your beast, ride
alongside of him, and empty your Colt behind his shoulder. Keep rather
behind him, and have your horse well in hand to wheel if he twists round
and charges you."

A few minutes later the signal was given, and the five horsemen dashed
down the slope. A deep bellow proclaimed that the herd had become aware
of the presence of their enemies. The leisurely pace at which they were
proceeding changed instantly into a gallop on the part of those
conscious of danger. The impulse was communicated to those in front,