136 BIRDS AND POETS 
of little consequence. But when spring came, and 
it was time for her to go forth and seek her liveli- 
hood in the city’s waste places, I was embarrassed. 
Into what remote corners or into what terra incog- 
nita might she not wander! There was little doubt 
but she would drift around home in the course of the 
summer, or perhaps as often as every week or two; 
but could she be trusted to find her way back every 
night? Perhaps she could be taught. Perhaps her 
other senses were acute enough to compensate her 
in a measure for her defective vision. So I gave 
her lessons in the topography of the country. I 
led her forth to graze for a few hours each day 
and led her home again. Then I left her to come 
home alone, which feat she accomplished very en- 
couragingly. She came feeling her way along, step- 
ping very high, but apparently a most diligent and 
interested sight-seer. But she was not sure of the 
right house when she got to it, though she stared 
at it very hard. 
Again I turned her forth, and again she came 
back, her telescopic eyes apparently of some service 
to her. On the third day, there was a fierce thun- 
der-storm late in the afternoon, and old buffalo did 
not come home. It had evidently scattered and 
bewildered what little wit she had. Being barely 
able to navigate those streets on a calm day, what 
could she be expected to do in a tempest ? 
After the storm had passed, and near sundown, 
I set out in quest of her, but could get no clew. I 
heard that two cows had been struck by lightning 
