Wilderness Reserves 



his health he became very cross. Not only would 

 he attack men, but also' buffalo, even the old and 

 surly master bull, thumping them savagely with his 

 antlers if they did anything to which he objected. 

 When I reached the post and dismounted at the 

 Major's house, I supposed my experiences with 

 wild beasts for the day were ended; but this was 

 an error. The quarters of the officers and men and 

 the various hotel buildings, stables, residences of the 

 civilian officials, etc., almost completely surround 

 the big parade ground at the post, near the middle 

 of which stands the flag-pole, while the gun used 

 for morning and evening salutes is well off to one 

 side. There are large gaps between some of the 

 buildings, and Major Pitcher informed me that 

 throughout the winter he had been leaving alfalfa 

 on the parade grounds, and that numbers of black- 

 tail deer had been in the habit of visiting it ever>' 

 day, sometimes as many as seventy being on the 

 parade ground at once. As springtime came on 

 the numbers diminished. However, in mid-after- 

 noon, while I was writing in my room in Major 

 Pitcher's house, on looking out of the window I 

 saw five deer on the parade ground. They were 

 as tame as so many Alderney cows, and when I 

 walked out I got up to within twenty yards of 

 them without any difficulty. It was most amusing 



31 



