CHAPTER XX. 

SOMETHING ABOUT WHITE OX. 

"What shall we do, Joe; wait until your brother and old Benson come up?" asked Darry, as they surveyed the approaching animals. 

"I suppose we ought to wait," answered Joe. "But if they take alarm, they'll be off in double-quick order, I am afraid." 

Each of the boys brought around his rifle, which had been picked up on leaving the desperadoes' rendezvous, and saw that it was ready for use. 

"If we could only signal to the others!" suggested Darry impatiently. 

"One of us might go back," began Joe, when he gave a sudden start. "They see us! See, they are turning away!" he cried. 

Hardly had he spoken when Darry fired, aiming at the largest of the buffaloes. Joe followed, with a second shot, aimed at the same beast. Both bullets reached their mark, and the animal was hit in the breast and in the right foreleg. 

"We hit him!" ejaculated Darry. "Let us fire at him again!" And he started to reload with all speed. 

When struck the buffalo uttered a bellow of pain and went down on his knees. But he quickly arose, and now came straight for the boys, his head down, as if to gore them to death. 

Crack! It was Darry's rifle which spoke up, and the buffalo staggered, hit on the head, a glancing blow, however, which did little damage. 

By this time Joe had reloaded, but he did not fire at once, hoping to get a closer shot at the beast. In the meantime the others of the herd had disappeared completely. 
then?
now came straight for the boys