The men lay low on the backs of the ponies, so as not to be seen, and, as the corporal and those with him dashed off on the leaders, the other scouts pushing the herd upon them, the two startled Indian boys could just get out of the way as the stampeded animals went flying down the valley. What stampeded them those two boys could not tell, but their shrill cries gave the alarm, as well as did the thunder of hundreds of hoofs. There were braves in the village who had ponies near their tepees, and as soon as they could they dashed off in pursuit. But the stampeded ponies had over a mile the start before the warriors could get away, and that meant a long, hard chase unless the ponies stopped of their own free will. There were not over a score of braves who had ponies near by, and, as they came upon the two boys, the latter had a strange story to tell, of the whole herd raising their heads as one animal, uttering wild snorts, and going off as though possessed of evil spirits. On down the valley swept the herd, and, as mile after mile was gone over, the slow ponies and used-up ones began to lag behind. But Corporal Milk and his men led the way, and Buffalo Bill and those with him kept the pace a hot one, forcing the ponies that could run and endure the strain close on the heels of the leaders. Behind them they knew the warriors were coming with all the speed they could to try and head off the herd. But a stern chase is a long one always, especially when the leaders have a start of over a mile, and several hours thus passed before at last the shadowy outlines of the pursuers could be seen. “We must push to the lead now, pards, at all hazards. “We have to desert our ponies, and, fortunately, we have the timber along the river to hide us,” said Buffalo Bill. The ponies they rode then were pushed the harder, and they began to pass animal after animal. The center of the herd was reached, then they forged nearer and nearer to the front, the ponies they passed halting as they went by them, and thus checking the more rapid pursuit of the braves in chase. At last Buffalo Bill saw Corporal Milk’s tall form ahead, and the next moment the scouts were all bunched together. “Off to the right, here. All lie low on your own horses now, and no one speak aloud, for there are a score of braves pursuing,” said Buffalo Bill. The word was passed in a low tone from one to the other, the scouts wheeled to the right, the shadow of the timber along the river was reached, and each man slipped from the back of the animal he rode, pulled off the lariat bridle from his pony, and bounded into the shelter of the trees. Lashed with the lariats to urge them on, the group of ponies just deserted, though fagged out, ran on down the valley, and suddenly in chase swept half a dozen braves. “They had gained well on us, but they’ll soon head those ponies off and return up the valley,” said Buffalo Bill. “It was a successful stampede,” remarked the corporal.