and
in a few seconds the whole herd was tearing along like a mighty torrent.

But they were too late to escape the hunters, who came down upon their
rear, and each proceeded to single out an animal. Following Abe's
instructions, Frank ranged up alongside a fine bull, and opened fire
with his revolver at a point just behind the shoulder. At the third shot
the great beast swerved sharply round, and had not Frank been on the
alert he would have lost his seat, so sharply did the horse wheel to
avoid the animal's horns. The buffalo at once resumed its course behind
the herd; but Frank was soon alongside again, and as he fired the last
shot of his revolver had the satisfaction of seeing the great beast
stagger and then fall prostrate. He at once reined in his horse and
looked round. His companions were all some distance in the rear, having
brought down their game with less expenditure of lead, knowing exactly
the right spot where a wound would be fatal.

"That's a fair lot of meat," Abe said, as they gathered into a group.
"That will last 'em a long time. Now, if we had been Injins, we should
have gone on shooting and shooting till we had killed a score or more,
and then taken just the best bits, and left the rest for the coyotes;
but I call it downright wicked to waste meat. Kill what you want--that's
natural and right; but I am agin drawing a bead on an animal, whether he
be buffalo or deer, or what-not, onless you want his meat, or onless his
hide be of value to you. If men acted on that thar rule there would be
game on these plains for any time; it's wilful destruction as is
clearing 'em out, not fair hunting.

"Now we will ride off and stop the teams as they come along and bring
'em round here. It won't be so very far out of thar way. We can stop a
couple of days to cut up and dry the meat. The rest will do the cattle
good, and there's nothing like having a supply of dried meat; I don't
say it's as toothsome as fresh, but it ain't ter be despised, and the
time may come, in fact it's pretty sure to come, when we shan't be able
to do much hunting round the waggons. We are getting nigh the country
where we may expect to meet with Injin troubles. It's just as well we
met with this herd afore we got thar, for we should have been pretty
sure to find a party of them hanging on the rear of the buffalo."

Three hours later the waggons arrived at the spot, the emigrants in high
spirits at the news that such an abundant supply o