The wolves scattered in every direction; and the great bull, now perceiving his new enemies, commenced rushing from one to the other, endeavouring to carry their horses upon his horns.

It was with great difficulty that they could keep out of his reach; but at length another well-directed shot from Basil's rifle entered the heart of the animal; and, after balancing himself upon his spread limbs, and rocking awhile from side to side, the huge creature fell forward upon his knees and lay motionless, with a stream of blood pouring from his lips.

In a few moments he was dead! Having made sure of this, our hunters flung themselves from their horses, drew their skinning-knives, and made up to the noble quarry.
You may fancy their astonishment as well as chagrin, when, upon getting close to the animal, they discovered that what they had taken for a white buffalo was no white buffalo after all, but a _black one painted white_! Neither more nor less.

The thing was too plain.

The lime-like coating which covered the huge animal all over was now apparent; and as they passed their hands through the long hair, a white substance resembling pulverised chalk came off upon their fingers! What could have caused the strange phenomenon, they asked one another.
But the explanation was soon found.