but possesses great endurance. They will often dash at full speed
over ground so rough that the more graceful horse will stumble.

When wounded by the hunters, a bull will sometimes turn in desperation
on his persecutor. Then, unless the horse is well trained, serious
consequences are likely to follow. The plunging thrust of his stumpy
horns perhaps rips open the steed, sending the rider flying over
the back of the furious bison, who may turn upon him and slay him
before he can escape.

This rarely happens, however, the bison being a huge, cowardly
creature which prefers to run rather than fight, and a hunt of the
game in these days often takes the character of wholesale butchery
in which no true sportsman would engage.



CHAPTER XIV.


A Strange Occurrence -- Arrival of Friends -- Carson Joins a Large
Company -- Trapping on the Yellowstone -- The Blackfeet -- A Dreadful
Scourge -- In Winter Quarters -- The Friendly Crow Indians -- Loss
of Two Trappers -- On the Head Waters of the Missouri.

A singular occurrence took place a few nights after the return of
Carson and his friends from an extended bison hunt. Their horses
and mules were corralled near the post and a sentinel was on duty
at all hours of the night to prevent the animals being stolen by
the Indians who were always prowling through the neighborhood.