A BUFFALO-HUNT 185 



went the hunters after them. My first intention of being 

 merely a looker-on continued up to this moment, but it 

 was impossible to resist following; almost unconsciously I 

 commenced urging my horse after them, and was soon rush- 

 ing up hills and through ravines; but my horse gave out, 

 and disappointment and anger followed, as McKenzie and 

 Bonaventure succeeded in killing two and wounding a 

 third, which escaped. As soon as they had finished them 

 they commenced skinning and cutting up one, which was 

 soon in the cart, the offal and useless meat being left on the 

 ground. Again the wolves made their appearance as we 

 were leaving; they seemed shy, but Owen McKenzie suc- 

 ceded in killing one, which was old and useless. The other 

 buffalo was soon skinned and in the cart. In the mean 

 time McKenzie and I started on horseback for water. The 

 man who had charge of the keg had let it all run out, and 

 most fortunately none of us had wanted water until now. 

 " We rode to a pond, the water of which was very salt 

 and warm, but we had to drink this or none; we did so, 

 filled our flasks for the rest of the party, and a few minutes 

 afterward rejoined them. We started again for more meat 

 to complete our load. I observed, as we approached the 

 buffaloes, that they stood still gazing at us with their heads 

 erect, lashing their sides with their tails; as soon as they 

 discovered what we were at, with the quickness of thought 

 they wheeled, and with the most surprising speed, for an 

 animal apparently so clumsy and awkward, flew before us. 



