"That Buffalo Smith's herd of bison had broken from their range and gone back to the free life of their kind. They skedaddled in a night." "Yes, I heard about that," came the reply. "And Zander told me as his own private opinion that Captain Smith would have trouble rounding up the run-aways, because they'd separated in every direction, each seeming to want to look out for himself." "Wasn't that a queer way for buffaloes to act?" queried Lanky. "I always understood they kept together in a bunch, just as our cattle do unless they've been stampeded and badly frightened, when they go into a panic." "Zander, who seems to know lots about the animals, told me," commented Frank, "that you never can tell what a buffalo will do. He says they often seem to get wild and crazy, as if they'd been eating the loco weed that's found sometimes on the plains. But what made you bring up that subject, if it's a fair question, Paul?" "Oh, just because we're pretty close to one of that same run-away herd right now," came the cool and astonishing reply. "What's that?" exclaimed Lanky, perking up instantly. "Where do you see a buffalo?" asked Frank, also interested, although believing the other must have deceived himself. Paul pulled in his pony and pointed toward the foot of the mountain chain. "Right alongside that patch of trees growing in front of the big boulder. There, he's raised his shaggy head and is staring straight at us!" The others took one good look, and then while Lanky whistled to mark his surprise, also delight, Frank hastened to give his opinion. "Good eyes you've certainly got, Paul, for I looked that way myself, and if I noticed anything at all I must have believed that object was only a shadow. But it's as plain as print to me now. That's a buffalo bull--his bulk tells us that." "Shall we ride over and take a squint at the beast?" asked Lanky. "For one," Paul told him, "I'd like to say I'd seen a genuine wild buffalo on his native ground, and me astride a cow pony." "Let's go!" was Frank's terse way of saying he found himself of the same mind as the others. No one had to ask Lanky what he wanted to do, since he invariably proved ready for action of any kind. Accordingly they turned to the left and cantered forward. Already did the cow ponies scent the presence of the lumbering beast near by. This was made evident by the way in which they snorted and took brisk, chopping steps, indicating their extreme excitement. "They're not used to coming so close to buffaloes," explained Frank. "Fact is, I hardly think any one of the three has ever before glimpsed such a sight as this." "But their noses have caught the wild animal scent, you can see," Lanky ventured, he being much at home in the doings of four-footed creatures. "Why doesn't the silly thing start running off?" cried Paul. "I thought they were always reckoned a timid bunch in spite of their bulk and savage-looking mop of hair about their heads."