1 6 Hunting the Grisly 



warmth of the early sunshine ; then, with much 

 splashing and the gurgling of soft mud, they 

 left the pool and clambered up the bluff with 

 unwieldy agility. As soon as they turned, 

 my brother and cousin ran for their rifles, 

 but before they got back the buffaloes had 

 crossed the bluff crest. Climbing after them, 

 the two hunters found, when they reached the 

 summit, that their game, instead of halting, 

 had struck straight off across the prairie at 

 a slow lope, doubtless intending to rejoin the 

 herd they had left. After a moment s consul 

 tation the men went in pursuit, excitement 

 overcoming their knowledge that they ought 

 not, by rights, to leave camp. They struck a 

 steady trot, following the animals by sight 

 until they passed over a knoll, and then trail 

 ing them. Where the grass was long, as it 

 was for the first four or five miles, this was a 

 work of no difficulty, and they did not break 

 their gait, only glancing now and then at the 

 trail. As the sun rose and the day became 

 warm, their breathing grew quicker; and the 

 sweat rolled off their faces as they ran across 

 the rough prairie sward, up and down the 

 long inclines, now and then shifting their 

 heavy rifles from one shoulder to the other. 

 But they were in good training, and they did 



