Buffalo Hunt, Chase

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Indians on foot and horseback hunting buffaloes (Plate 7)."The buffalo is a harmless and timid animal until severely wounded, or closely pursued, when it often turns upon horse and rider with a great rage and shocking disaster, unless a sudden escape can be made from its relentless fury. When closely pursued by the horse, and held a little too long in familiar company, the bull will often suddenly wheel around, receiving horse and rider on his horns, at the imminent hazard of the limbs and lives of both.In this group is seen the position and expression of the Indian and the buffalo, at the moment the arrow has been thrown and buried to the feather in the animal's side. In the front of the picture, the wounded bull is seen dying, whilst wreaking his vengeance upon the horse; and on the left, another bull goring the horse of this assailant, who is forced from his seat and obliged to pass over the backs of several animals, which is often the case when they are running in numerous and confused masses. In this instance is seen the blade of the arrow protruding from the wound on the opposite side of the animal to that where it entered, one of the frequent occurrences of the kind, illustrating the great force with which the Indian's arrows are occasionally sent, passing entirely through the animal's body."