en for some moments past tearing at their thongs to get
away, so that no sooner were they freed than, barking and baying
fiercely, they raced down after the buffaloes, and Dinny never did a
better act in his life. Certainly it was prompted by cowardice; but it
had its good fruits, for it was the saving of poor Dick's life.

The boys had galloped on as had been suggested, gradually inclining to
the right, so that they drew the little herd of bulls into following
them in a circle; and in this way they had nearly gone round the waggon
at about a couple of hundred yards' distance, wondering why their father
did not shoot, when, all at once, just as the baying of the dogs reached
their ears, Dick turned a piteous look at his brother.

"I'm--I'm not strong, yet, Jack," he faltered. "Ride on fast."

To Jack's horror he saw his brother's eyes close, and that he fell
forward upon his horse's neck; the next moment he had glided as it were
out of his saddle, and fallen--his horse, from its good training,
stopping short by his side.

The buffaloes were only about thirty yards behind, and as Jack reined
in, and turned to help his brother, the bulls lowered, their horns, and
in another moment or two they would have been trampled and gored,
perhaps killed; but just as the great shaggy animals were upon them, the
dogs made their attack, Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus each seizing a bull
by the lip, while Rough'un kept up a furious barking as he tore at the
various animals' heels.

The effect was magical upon the buffaloes, which tossed their heads
furiously in the air, and dislodging their assailants, turned and rushed
off, with the dogs now biting their heels or leaping viciously at their
flanks, all attack now being changed to flight.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

"OOMPH! OOMPH! OOMPH!"

"Are you much hurt, Dick?" cried Jack anxiously, as he knelt on one knee
by his brother.

"No, I think not," panted Dick, opening his eyes. "I came over all
giddy, and couldn't sit my horse. Did he throw me?"

"No: you fell."

"But where are the buffaloes?"

"Yonder they go," replied Jack. "Don't you hear the dogs? There, lean
on me, and let's walk in to the camp."

"Oh, no," cried Dick. "I'm better now."

"No, no; don't try to mount."

"Yes, I shall," was the reply. "I was overdone from being weak; but I'm
better now, and I'm going with you to bring in the buffalo we shot."

"Oh no, Dick, don't try," cried his brother anxiously.