This proved to be the case; for in a few minutes the headmost had pushed forward on a line with the butte; and our young hunters could distinguish the shaggy, lion-shaped bodies of the bulls that formed the vanguard of the "gang." Under other circumstances this would have been a glad sight indeed.

As it was, it only served to render their situation more intolerable.

The buffaloes were passing to the north.
Even should they themselves escape, after a time they might not be able to overtake them; and although they could distinguish none that were _white_--for the main body was a great way off--it was highly probable that in so large a herd one or more of these would be found.
As all three continued to watch the black multitudes rolling past, an exclamation, or rather a _shout_ of joy, was uttered by Basil.

He was upon a tree that stood apart from the others and gave him an unobstructed view of the plains to the west.
"_Voila_! yonder! yonder!" he cried: "see! in the middle of the drove! See, brothers!--it shines in the sun--white--white! Huzza!--huzza!" Basil's speech was scarcely coherent.

Neither was that of his brothers, when they beheld the object to which he had alluded.