elieve the evidence of their eyes. With the palms of
their hands they shaded them from the sun, and gazed still a longer
while. They saw, at length, there could be no deception. Buffaloes the
animals were, and _white ones_ too!

They were not all of an uniform white, though most of them were. A few
were darker about the heads and legs, with broad white flakes upon their
sides, giving them a mottled appearance. The general colour, however,
was whitish; and, strange to say, there was not a black or brown one in
the herd!--not one of the well-known colour that buffaloes usually are!
It was this that rendered them such a mysterious band in the eyes of our
adventurers.

The latter, however, soon got over their surprise. There could be no
doubt that they had fallen in with a herd of white buffaloes. Perhaps,
thought they, there is, after all, nothing so strange in such a number
of them being together. Perhaps the individuals of that colour, so
rarely met with, usually associate together in this way, and keep apart
from the black ones. What better fortune could have happened for them
then? If they could only succeed in killing one of these creatures, it
would be all that they could wish for, and all they wanted. The object
of their expedition would then be accomplished; and nothing would remain
but to turn their horses' heads, and take the shortest route homeward.
With these ideas passing through their minds, they at once set about
considering how they might kill or capture one or more of the herd.

They were not slow to decide upon a plan. The buffaloes, still
continuing their angry conflict, had not noticed them as yet, nor were
they likely to do so. The hunters resolved, therefore, that two of them
should remain on horseback--so as to take the animals upon the "run"--
while the third was to endeavour to "approach" them on foot, and get a
sure shot before they should start off, taking his chance of joining in
the chase afterwards. The latter duty was assigned to Basil; who, after
dismounting from his horse, and looking to his trusty rifle, commenced
creeping down into the valley. Lucien and Francois--still in their
saddles--remained upon the ridge.

Basil reached the grove of willows without being observed; and, stealing
silently through, found himself within less than fifty paces of several
of the herd. They were still rushing to and fro, raising the dust in
clouds, roaring furiously, parting from each ot