hen for the prairies!" echoed Francois,--"the prairies--the wild
horses--the big-horns--and the buffalo!"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THREE BUFFALOES WITH WINGS.

Our travellers next morning resumed their journey, and for several days
continued on without meeting any incident worth recording. They crossed
many large streams, among which may be mentioned the Neches and Trinity
of Texas.

On the "divide," between the Trinity and Brazos rivers, an adventure
befell them that came near having a painful result.

In hot weather it was their custom to halt during the noon hours, both
to refresh themselves and rest their animals. This is the custom of
most travellers through these wild regions, and is called "nooning."

With this intention, one day, they drew bridle by the edge of a tract of
prairie, and dismounted. Behind them was the forest through which they
had just passed, and before them lay the prairie, which they intended to
cross in the cool of the evening. The surface of the latter was quite
level, covered with a green mantle of young buffalo-grass, with here and
there an island of low timber that broke the monotony of the view. In
the distance a thick forest of live oak bounded the prairie on the other
side; and although the latter appeared only two or three miles distant,
it was not less than ten--so deceptive is the pure atmosphere of these
upland regions. The country in which they now were was what is termed
"timber prairie"--that is, a prairie interspersed with groves and
copses.

I say our adventurers had just dismounted, and were about to take off
their saddles, when an exclamation from Francois drew the attention of
his brothers.

"_Voila_!" cried he, pointing out to the open ground. "Buffaloes--
buffaloes!"

Basil and Lucien looked in the direction pointed out. Three large dark
objects were seen on the crest of a low swell in the prairie. They were
moving about; and one was evidently smaller than the others.

"Of _course_ they are buffaloes," continued Francois. "Look at their
size! Two bulls and a cow, no doubt."

His brothers agreed with him. None of the three had ever seen buffaloes
in their native wilderness; and of course had but an indistinct idea of
how they might appear from a distance. Buffaloes they must be--elk or
deer would look red--wolves red or white; and they could not be bears,
as these last would not likely be out on the prairie in threes, unless,
indeed, they might be