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and ran no risk of being lost in the proximity of the hunting
party； there was no general alarm。
Thus reassured； and having a general idea of the direction of the
hunt； the boys pushed hilariously forward。 Before them opened a
vast expanse of bottom land； slightly sloping on the right to a
distant half…filled lagoon； formed by the main river overflow； on
whose tributary they had encamped。 The lagoon was partly hidden by
straggling timber and 〃brush；〃 and beyond that again stretched the
unlimitable plainsthe pasture of their mighty game。 Hither； Jim
hoarsely informed his companion； the buffaloes came to water。 A
few rods further on； he started dramatically； and； alighting；
proceeded to slowly examine the ground。 It seemed to be scattered
over with half…circular patches； which he pointed out mysteriously
as 〃buffalo chip。〃 To Clarence's inexperienced perception the
plain bore a singular resemblance to the surface of an ordinary
unromantic cattle pasture that somewhat chilled his heroic fancy。
However； the two companions halted and professionally examined
their arms and equipments。
These； I grieve to say； though varied； were scarcely full or
satisfactory。 The necessities of their flight had restricted Jim
to an old double…barreled fowling…piece； which he usually carried
slung across his shoulders； an old…fashioned 〃six…shooter；〃 whose
barrels revolved occasionally and unexpectedly； known as 〃Allen's
Pepper Box〃 on account of its culinary resemblance； and a bowie…
knife。 Clarence carried an Indian bow and arrow with which he had
been exercising； and a hatchet which he had concealed under the
flanks of his saddle。 To this Jim generously added the six…
shooter； taking the hatchet in exchangea transfer that at first
delighted Clarence； until； seeing the warlike and picturesque
effect of the hatchet in Jim's belt； he regretted the transfer。
The gun； Jim meantime explained 〃extry charged；〃 〃chuck up〃 to the
middle with slugs and revolver bullets； could only be fired by
himself； and even then he darkly added； not without danger。 This
poverty of equipment was； however； compensated by opposite
statements from Jim of the extraordinary results obtained by these
simple weapons from 〃fellers I knew：〃 how HE himself had once
brought down a 〃bull〃 by a bold shot with a revolver through its
open bellowing mouth that pierced his 〃innards；〃 how a friend of
hisan intimate in factnow in jail at Louisville for killing a
sheriff's deputy； had once found himself alone and dismounted with
a simple clasp…knife and a lariat among a herd of buffaloes； how；
leaping calmly upon the shaggy shoulders of the biggest bull； he
lashed himself with the lariat firmly to its horns； goading it
onward with his clasp…knife； and subsisting for days upon the flesh
cut from its living body； until； abandoned by its fellows and
exhausted by the loss of blood； it finally succumbed to its victor
at the very outskirts of the camp to which he had artfully driven
it！ It must be confessed that this recital somewhat took away
Clarence's breath； and he would have liked to ask a few questions。
But they were alone on the prairie； and linked by a common
transgression； the glorious sun was coming up victoriously； the
pure； crisp air was intoxicating their nerves； in the bright
forecast of youth everything WAS possible！
The surface of the bottom land that they were crossing was here and
there broken up by fissures and 〃potholes；〃 and some circumspection
in their progress became necessary。 In one of these halts；
Clarence was struck by a dull； monotonous jarring that sounded like
the heavy regular fall of water over a dam。 Each time that they
slackened their pace the sound would become more audible； and was
at last accompanied by that slight but unmistakable tremor of the
earth that betrayed the vicinity of a waterfall。 Hesitating over
the phenomenon； which seemed to imply that their topography was
wrong and that they had blundered from the track； they were
presently startled by the fact that the sound was actually
APPROACHING them！ With a sudden instinct they both galloped
towards the lagoon。 As the timber opened before them Jim uttered a
long ecstatic shout。 〃Why； it's THEM！〃
At a first glance it seemed to Clarence as if the whole plain
beyond was broken up and rolling in tumbling waves or furrows
towards them。 A second glance showed the tossing fronts of a vast
herd of buffaloes； and here and there； darting in and out and among
them； or emerging from the cloud of dust behind； wild figures and
flashes of fire。 With the idea of water still in his mind； it
seemed as if some tumultuous tidal wave were sweeping unseen
towards the lagoon； carrying everything before it。 He turned with
eager eyes； in speechless expectancy； to his companion。
Alack！ that redoubtable hero and mighty hunter was； to all
appearances； equally speechless and astonished。 It was true that
he remained rooted to the saddle； a lank； still heroic figure；
alternately grasping his hatchet and gun with a kind of spasmodic
regularity。 How long he would have continued this would never be
known； for the next moment； with a deafening crash； the herd broke
through the brush； and； swerving at the right of the lagoon； bore
down directly upon them。 All further doubt or hesitation on their
part was stopped。 The farseeing； sagacious Mexican plug with a
terrific snort wheeled and fled furiously with his rider。 Moved；
no doubt； by touching fidelity； Clarence's humbler team…horse
instantly followed。 In a few moments those devoted animals
struggled neck to neck in noble emulation。
〃What are we goin' off this way for？〃 gasped the simple Clarence。
〃Peyton and Gildersleeve are back thereand they'll see us；〃
gasped Jim in reply。 It struck Clarence that the buffaloes were
much nearer them than the hunting party； and that the trampling
hoofs of a dozen bulls were close behind them； but with another
gasp he shouted；
〃When are we going to hunt 'em？〃
〃Hunt THEM！〃 screamed Jim； with a hysterical outburst of truth；
〃why； they're huntin' USdash it！〃
Indeed； there was no doubt that their frenzied horses were flying
before the equally frenzied herd behind them。 They gained a
momentary advantage by riding into one of the fissures； and out
again on the other side； while their pursuers were obliged to make
a detour。 But in a few minutes they were overtaken by that part of
the herd who had taken the other and nearer side of the lagoon； and
were now fairly in the midst of them。 The ground shook with their
trampling hoofs； their steaming breath； mingling with the stinging
dust that filled the air； half choked and blinded Clarence。 He was
dimly conscious that Jim had wildly thrown his hatchet at a cow
buffalo pressing close upon his flanks。 As they swept down into
another gully he saw him raise his fateful gun with utter
desperation。 Clarence crouched low on his horse's outstretched
neck。 There was a blinding flash； a single stunning report of both
barrels； Jim reeled in one way half out of the saddle； while the
smoking gun seemed to leap in another over his head； and then rider
and horse vanished in