"Ha! What have we here?" cried Captain Cannon. "That's a buffalo," replied Van Hoosen. "Dear me, I should have taken it for a cow. How savage he looks!" "Yes. The buffalo in his wild, untamed state is very ferocious. Now, gentlemen, Harkaway, Harvey and myself will stay here, while you three go up and stalk the game. If he escapes _you_, we will bring him down." "Thank you," replied the captain. "Advance, my friends. This is a glorious moment." It was observable that Mr. Twinkle trembled violently and could scarcely hold his gun. The three advanced together slowly, but neither would go ahead of the others. Van Hoosen made a signal to Jack and Harvey, who followed him into a thicket. Here old Stock, the steward, was securely hidden, awaiting their coming. "What's in the wind now?" asked Jack. "We're bound to scare your friends, and I want you to dress up as Indians. Stock has everything ready for us, even to a pot of red paint." Jack struck an attitude. "Heap big Injun, ugh!" he exclaimed, amid much laughter. They quickly proceeded to disguise themselves, tied feathers in their hair, put on their war-paint, and slung blankets over their shoulders. While they were dressing the three buffalo-hunters were approaching the old bull, who watched them with as much curiosity as they displayed with regard to him. "Twinkle," said the captain, "you are entitled to the first shot." "N-no," replied Twinkle, with chattering teeth. "Think you ought to have the honor." "I decline it." "Then by all means let Mr. Mole attack the beast. How fierce he looks, and what terrible horns he has! Go in, Mole, and slay him!" "That is for you to do," replied Mole. "I will lie down in the grass where he can't see me." "What is the use of that?" "Don't you see? I can take a steady shot at the savage creature and he won't know what hit him." The professor did not waste any more time in words. He threw himself down in the long grass, while Captain Cannon retired behind the unfortunate Twinkle. The latter had never in his life shot anything bigger than a sparrow in spite of all his boasting, and he was thoroughly alarmed. "Bless me!" exclaimed the captain. "Where are Harkaway and the other fellows?" "Not gone, are they?" inquired Twinkle. "I can't see them anywhere." "The cowards! They have run away and left us to face the music! That's _mean_," said Twinkle. The bull at this moment left the shelter of the tree and advanced toward the intruders on his domain. "He's a-coming!" gasped Twinkle. "Fire!" said the captain. Mr. Twinkle grasped his gun fiercely, shut his eyes, turned his back to the buffalo, and fired. The blank cartridge struck Captain Cannon, hurting him considerably in a very tender portion of his body--not in front neither. "Oh-h!!! I'm shot!" he said, clapping his hands to the place and dropping his gun. "Shot! did I hit you?" asked Mr. Twinkle, innocently.