CHAPTER XXVII.. The Ladies Chased by a Herd of Buffaloes--How Their

THE LADIES CHASED BY A HERD OF BUFFALOES--HOW THEIR LIVES WERE SAVED--IN CAMP AGAIN--STORIES OF BUFFALO ADVENTURE.

"No, I don't," replied Harry; "I think it would be showing a greater respect to them for us to take the trouble of saddling our horses and going purposely to their kraal, instead of ignoring them until such time as we 'happen' upon them. They will learn from the natives that we are here, just as we have learned about them."

"I agree with Harry," said Jack; "but it's too late in the afternoon for us to visit them to-day; we can start out in the morning and ride over there."

"Well, that will do," said Harry; "it certainly is rather late in the day; if we were ready to start this minute we couldn't get there and back again before dark unless we limited our call to about five minutes, and that wouldn't do."

"You may be sure it wouldn't," said Jack; "when I call upon them I don't want to be cut short on five minutes."

It was agreed all around that we should make a visit to the ladies the next morning, and with that understanding everybody was cheerful. We had a substantial supper, and went to bed early. All were up in good season the next morning, and my companions were decidedly uneasy all the time that intervened between their waking and the saddling of the horses after breakfast. As we mounted and rode away I suggested that we had better ride slowly, as the distance was short, and we did not want to get there too early in the morning; the others assented, and we jogged on at a slow pace. We had several opportunities for shooting game while on the way, but resisted temptation, since a yielding to it would have involved loss of time. In due time we came in sight of the camp, and rode slowly up to it; the manager came forward to meet us, and informed us, to our dismay, that the ladies had taken an early start and gone out hunting.

"Which way did they go?" queried Jack.

"They went toward the northwest," replied the manager, "where the natives reported a herd of buffaloes. The after-rider went with them on horseback, and half a dozen Kafirs followed on foot. I think," he continued, "that you will have no difficulty in finding them, as they will be sure to be in the vicinity of the herd of buffaloes."

We thanked him for the information, and then rode away in the direction which he indicated. When an intervening ridge shut out the sight of the camp, we halted and held a council. I was of the opinion that we had better leave the ladies to themselves, and not interfere with their hunting for the day, but was speedily overruled by my companions, who outvoted me two to one. They had the argument on their side, I had to confess, and therefore I yielded with very little hesitation.

"They've been getting into scrapes lately," said Jack, "and the chances are even that they'll get into one to-day. If we go where they are we may be able to pull them out of a difficulty, which we could not do if we went on in an entirely different direction. We need not interfere with their hunting at all; if they can kill the entire herd let them do so, but I imagine there won't be very much diminution of it after they have had their fill of buffalo-shooting."

As soon as the question was decided we hurried on toward the northwest. We had gone about six miles when we saw ahead of us a cloud of dust, and knew that it was the locality of the herd. The ground was open and undulating; scattered mimosa and other trees dotted the region, but they were not sufficiently numerous to afford cover or shelter to any great extent; neither did they impede the view.

"There comes the herd!" shouted Jack, as he saw the cloud of dust. "I'll bet our friends are just behind it, and having a merry time."

"The herd is coming this way at full speed," said Harry; "how rapidly that dust-cloud approaches!"

We all rose in our stirrups and looked intently in the direction of the dust; very soon I made out that the herd stretched across the plain to a considerable extent, and, according to the indications, it contained a goodly number of animals. It was certain that we would have plenty of sport without interfering with that of our neighbors.

"Stop! What is that?" I exclaimed. "Just look in front of the herd, past that mimosa-tree with a bush at its base!"

"Yes, just look!" said Jack. "My God, the hunters are being hunted!"

Sure enough, that was the case. We could see the herd of buffaloes advancing at full speed, and in front of them--not more than two hundred yards in advance--were three individuals on horseback, riding at a gallop away from the herd! The situation was plain: the buffaloes had charged upon the three riders, and were pursuing them to the best of their ability.

"If anybody falls, death is certain," said Jack, "as that herd would trample the life out of one in a very few minutes. The lives of riders and horses are at stake; a single misstep, and the fall would be terrible. Let us ride forward and turn the herd, if it is possible to do so."

We went ahead at a gallop. Very soon we passed the fleeing riders, and just as we did so one of their horses plunged his foot into a hole and fell headlong! There was no time to stop to render assistance; all depended upon heading off that ruck of infuriated animals, that was coming on with the force of an avalanche.

We shouted, and waved our hands in the air; and then, gripping our faithful Winchesters, which we had brought along, we poured shot after shot, not at the herd, but directly over it. Had we fired at the animals and wounded any of them, we should have increased their fury; firing above them was the only way to intimidate them.

Our plan was successful: the leaders of the herd slackened their speed, and then veered away to the left. The others naturally followed the course of their leaders, and in less time than it takes me to tell the story the direction of that animate tornado was changed. The speed of the herd was but little diminished, but the course was changed about a quarter of a circle, which was amply sufficient for our purposes.

Under other circumstances we should have rushed in and had glorious sport among that mass of buffaloes, but our attentions were needed elsewhere. We wheeled about and saw the group of our friends where the one mentioned had fallen, and rode as quickly as possible to the place where they were. When we reached it we found that the victim of the fall was Miss Boland; but fortunately, with the exception of a few bruises, she was not injured. Mrs. Roberts and the after-rider had turned back to her assistance as soon as they discovered her fall, believing that we would be able to turn their pursuers either to the left or the right.

Mrs. Roberts was standing over Miss Boland, the latter being in a half-fainting condition. Fortunately I had brought along the brandy-flask which has heretofore been mentioned, and was able to administer a restorative dose to the patient.

In a little while the lady was able to mount her horse, and then we rode slowly toward their camp.

Harry obtained a place by Miss Boland's side, Jack rode close behind them with Mrs. Roberts, and I brought up the rear with the after-rider as my companion. From him I learned the particulars of the affair, which were about as follows:

"We had no difficulty in finding the herd," said he, "as it was scattered over quite a bit of land, where the buffaloes were grazing. We rode directly at them, the wind being favorable to us; and when within perhaps fifty yards the ladies drew up and fired, each one selecting a medium-sized cow as her target.

"The moment the first shot was fired some of the old bulls in the herd gave a peculiar cry or bellow, which brought all the animals together, with the exception of the two cows, that had been severely wounded and were unable to move quickly. The whole herd acted like a regiment of well-trained soldiers, all running toward the center, where these old bulls were. We thought they would try to run away, but they did not do anything of the kind: they pawed the earth and bellowed repeatedly, and then, as if by word of command, they all started straight toward us. We turned and ran, well knowing that if they once overtook us our deaths would be certain. That was the time you saw us, and you certainly saved the life of Miss Boland, if not the lives of all three. If you had been two minutes later she would surely have been trampled to death; and if our horses had fallen as hers did our fate would have been the same."

With the exception of my conversation with the after-rider, our journey homeward was a silent one. Miss Boland was unable to talk, much to Harry's disappointment, while Mrs. Roberts could do little better than answer in monosyllables to Jack's remarks.

When the party reached the kraal we assisted the ladies to dismount, and I, as the self-appointed master of ceremonies, told them to go to their tents at once, and we should see them the next day.

Miss Boland nodded assent, as she could not speak and was barely able to stand. Mrs. Roberts shook each of us fervently by the hand, and said:

"We owe our lives to you, gentlemen. Had it not been for you our fate would have been sealed. I can't say more now; good-by."

With that she took Miss Boland by the arm, and the two disappeared. We remained a few minutes outside the kraal, talking with the manager, and then mounted and rode away to our own camp.

By the time we reached it it was past noon, and we were hungry. The cook had not expected us, and consequently had made no preparations for luncheon; but that did not trouble us much, as a few slices of meat--good-sized slices--with some bread left over from breakfast, were sufficient for us. We discussed the events of the morning, and agreed that it was no exaggeration for Mrs. Roberts to say we had saved the lives of herself and Miss Boland.

"That's the first time I ever saw a herd of buffaloes charge in a body," said Jack; "I've been told that they do so, but have never seen it."

"I've seen it twice," I replied, "and I was one of the parties they charged against in both instances. My first experience was when chasing a troop of elands; a small herd of buffaloes, with a rhinoceros or two, came after me, and I only escaped by the fleetness of my horse and by doubling upon them in a little patch of forest. They lost sight of me and gave up the chase. Evidently they don't follow the trail by scent, but rely entirely upon the use of their eyes."

"And what was the other occasion?" queried Harry.

"Oh, the other time I was chased was when I was up in the buffalo country last year, and it was very much under the same circumstances as the event of to-day. Two of us had attacked a herd and put some lead into the leading bulls. The bulls gave a call that brought all the others to their aid, and then they charged at full speed. At a guess there were more than a hundred buffaloes in the crowd. My friend who was with me at the time thought there were two hundred at least. They formed into a very compact mass, and only the leaders could see where they were going.

"When they charged we were about two thirds of the way from one flank of the herd to the other. I suggested to my friend that we take the shortest cut toward the edge of the herd, and ride obliquely along the front, instead of running dead away before them. We did so, and as we reached the edge of the flank we doubled quickly around to the rear of the herd. This threw the animals into confusion, as the mass was so dense and so large that the leading bulls could not quickly make their way through it, while the cows and yearlings at the rear were not likely to lead a charge on their own account. Before the bulls got around in position to make a head against us we were safely out of reach."