A buffalo stampede is much worse--or rather was much worse, in the old days--because of the great weight and immense numbers of the beasts, which, in a fury of heedless terror, plunged over cliffs and into rivers, and bore down whatever was in their path.

On the occasion in question, my brother and cousin were on their way homeward.

They were just mounting one of the long, low swells, into which the prairie was broken, when they heard a low, muttering, rumbling noise, like far-off thunder.

It grew steadily louder, and, not knowing what it meant, they hurried forward to the top of the rise.

As they reached it, they stopped short in terror and amazement, for before them the whole prairie was black with madly rushing buffaloes.
Afterward they learned that another couple of hunters, four or five miles off, had fired into and stampeded a large herd.