There were many buffaloes in sight, scattered, according to their custom, in large bands.

When he was a mile or two away from the river a dull roaring sound in the distance attracted his attention, and he saw that a herd of buffalo far to the south, away from the river, had been stampeded and was running his way.

He knew that if he was caught in the open by the stampeded herd his chance for life would be small, and at once ran for the river.

By desperate efforts he reached the breaks in the sheer banks just as the buffaloes reached them, and got into a position of safety on the pinnacle of a little bluff.

From this point of vantage he could see the entire plain.