the motion of the engine on the
instant.

Fortunately no permanent injury was done, and while he was making
matters right, he recollected that in chatting with the trapper as he
was on the point of starting, he had begun to screw on the bolt, when
his attention had been momentarily diverted, when it escaped his mind
altogether, so that he alone was to blame for the accident, which had
so narrowly escaped proving a serious one.

Making sure that everything was right, he remounted the wagon, and
cautiously resumed his journey, going very slowly at first, so as to
watch the play of the engine.

Everything moved with its usual smoothness, and lifting his gaze he
descried three buffaloes, standing with erect heads, staring
wonderingly at him.

'If you want a chase you may have it!' exclaimed the boy as he headed
toward them.

CHAPTER XI. THE STEAM MAN ON A BUFFALO HUNT.

WITH A WILD snort of alarm, the three buffaloes turned tail and dashed
over the prairie, with the shrieking steam man in pursuit.

The boy had taken the precaution to bring a rifle with him. When he
saw them flee in this terrified manner, the thought came to him at
once that he would shoot one of them, and take a portion back to his
friends for their supper.

It would to a grand exploit for him, and he would be prouder of its
performance than he was of the construction of the wonderful steam
man.

The lumbering, rolling gait of the buffaloes was not a very rapid one,
and the boy found himself speedily overhauling them without
difficulty. They did not know enough to separate, but kept close
together, sometimes crowding and striking against each other in their
furious efforts to escape.

But, after the chase had continued some time, one of the animals began
to fall in the rear, and Johnny directed his attention toward him, as
he would be the most easy to secure.

This fellow was a huge bull that was slightly lame, which accounted
for his tardiness of gait. Frightened as he was, it was not that blind
terror which had seized the Indians when they discovered the steam man
so close at their heels. The bull was one of those creatures that if
closely pressed would turn and charge the monster. He was not one to
continue a fruitless flight, no matter who or what was his pursuer.

The boy was not aware of this sturdy trait in the animal, nor did he
dream of anything like resistance.

So he steadily drew toward him, until within twent