“They haven’t seen them,” said Chris. “Shout and tell them, then, now.” Chris gave a hail, and made the announcement.
“Where?” shouted Wilton excitedly.
“Out of sight now, sir,” replied Griggs. “The grass is very high down in that hollow, but if you look towards those trees you may see what I can now, the tall grass waving as if something was plunging through it.”
“I see them,” said Bourne directly after.
“And I,” cried Wilton. “Let’s ride hard and cut them off.”
But a word from the doctor checked him.
“Why not?” he said. “We shall want the food.”
“Yes, sometime,” said the doctor. “The buffaloes will not go far from such abundant pasture, with water close at hand. We can pick up a few birds as we come back, I dare say, enough for this evening and to-morrow. I want to get on as far as we can to-day and see for a new camping-place, as we agreed.”
“That’s right, sir,” said Griggs. “If we stop to get a shot or two at those fellows they may lead us another way, and what with the shooting, skinning, and cutting up, we shall make such a hole in the morning that we must put off our exploring till to-morrow.”
“Oh, very well,” said Wilton, rather ungraciously; “but when we do want our joints, mark my words, we shall not be able to get a shot.”