"Did you? Why, you confounded idiot, I'm covered with blood. Look here!" the captain gasped, indignantly. He withdrew his hands from the wound and regarded the ruby fluid grimly. "I'm very sorry." "Sorry be hanged! What good will that do me? Perhaps I shall die, or lose my leg; anyway, I know I sha'n't be able to sit down in comfort for a week." "I apologize. It--it sha'n't occur again," replied Twinkle. "I don't know how it happened. This is a horrid old gun. I never shot with such a funny gun before." "It's my opinion you're afraid, sir," shouted the captain. "Why don't you load up?" "I distinctly refuse to do so, sir," retorted Twinkle; "and after the injurious language you have used to me, sir, I shall retire from this shoot and leave you to kill the buffalo yourself." Saying this, he ran away and hid himself behind a neighboring tree. The captain looked after him contemptuously. Meanwhile the bull was getting nearer, and it was necessary to do something to check his progress. Taking a steady aim, Captain Cannon discharged his piece, and was surprised to see the animal remain unharmed. Loading up, he fired again and again, but the beast did not fall, though he grew enraged, and uttering a defiant snort, charged. The captain ran with all his might and succeeded in reaching a tree, behind which he sheltered himself. "Shoot him, Mole!" he cried. "You've a capital chance; let the brute have it, under the foreleg." The professor fired, but with no better luck than the others; and the bull, having his attention diverted, took a survey of his new enemy. Snorting again, he charged at the professor, who sprung to his feet, threw away his gun, and for want of a better weapon, opened his umbrella. Probably the buffalo had never before seen this offshoot of civilization, for he was much alarmed. Turning tail, he fled ignominiously from the field of battle, and was soon lost to sight. "Bravo," cried the captain. "Victory!" shouted Mr. Twinkle. They emerged from their shelter and warmly congratulated the professor on his exploit. "It was a happy thought," said Mole. "I will make a note of it. 'The buffalo, though impervious to bullets, will fly at the sight of an umbrella.'" "I think we had better go home," exclaimed Twinkle. "And I second that motion," replied the captain; "for my wound is becoming stiff and painful. We have actually seen a buffalo and had a terrific encounter with it. This will be sufficient to report to our society." "Quite," remarked Mole. "I am perfectly satisfied." Suddenly they were startled by a fearful yell, which made them jump. Looking round, they beheld three red Indians in all their majesty of paint, feathers and tomahawks. "Oh!! look!!!!" exclaimed Twinkle, "we shall all be robbed and murdered!" "Indians!" said the captain. "Why did not Mr. Van Hoosen warn us of this danger? I thought the wretches were kept on their reservations and guarded by government troops."