grizzly bears--who do sometimes go out into the
open ground to dig for the "pomme-blanche" and other roots. This,
however, was not probable, as the grizzly bears are seldom or never
found so far to the eastward. No. They were not "grizzlys." They were
not wild horses neither, that was plain enough. Buffaloes, then, they
must be.

Like all who see buffaloes for the first time in their native pastures,
our young hunters were filled with excitement--the more so, since to
meet with these animals was the object of their expedition, of the long
and perilous journey they had undertaken.

A hurried consultation followed as to how they should capture these
three. It was true that none of them was a _white_ buffalo; but no
matter. Our hunters wanted to taste buffalo-beef; and the chase after
these would give them practice, which might serve them afterwards. How,
then, were they to set about it?

"Why, run them, of course," counselled the ready Francois, with the air
of an experienced buffalo-hunter.

Now, there are several methods of hunting buffaloes, practised upon the
prairies, both by whites and Indians. The most common is that of which
Francois spoke, "running." This is done by simply overtaking the
buffalo, galloping alongside of him--the hunter, of course, being on
horseback--and shooting him through the heart while he runs. Shoot him
in the region of the heart you must; for you may put twenty bullets into
his great body elsewhere, and he will still manage to get away from you.
The hunters aim a little above the brisket, and behind the
fore-shoulder. The white hunters use the rifle, or sometimes a large
pistol--which is better for the purpose, as they can load it more easily
while going in a gallop. The Indians prefer the bow--as they can shoot
arrow after arrow in quick succession, thus slaying many buffaloes in a
single "run." So expert are they with this weapon, that their arrows
have been known to pierce through the bodies of large buffaloes, and
pass clear out on the other side! At times the Indians use spears with
which they thrust the buffaloes, while galloping alongside of them.

Another method of hunting these animals, is termed "approaching."

"Approaching" buffaloes is nothing else than creeping stealthily on them
until within range, when the hunter fires, often loads again and fires,
and so on, until many of them are killed, before their companions take
the alarm and scamper off. Indeed, t