Glancing Back I Saw The Huge
Head Of A Bull Clinging As It Were By The Forefeet At The Edge Of The
Dusty Gulf.
At length I was fairly among the buffalo.
They were
less densely crowded than before, and I could see nothing but bulls,
who always run at the rear of the herd. As I passed amid them they
would lower their heads, and turning as they ran, attempt to gore my
horse; but as they were already at full speed there was no force in
their onset, and as Pauline ran faster than they, they were always
thrown behind her in the effort. I soon began to distinguish cows
amid the throng. One just in front of me seemed to my liking, and I
pushed close to her side. Dropping the reins I fired, holding the
muzzle of the gun within a foot of her shoulder. Quick as lightning
she sprang at Pauline; the little mare dodged the attack, and I lost
sight of the wounded animal amid the tumultuous crowd. Immediately
after I selected another, and urging forward Pauline, shot into her
both pistols in succession. For a while I kept her in view, but in
attempting to load my gun, lost sight of her also in the confusion.
Believing her to be mortally wounded and unable to keep up with the
herd, I checked my horse. The crowd rushed onward. The dust and
tumult passed away, and on the prairie, far behind the rest, I saw a
solitary buffalo galloping heavily.
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