The Lordly Buffalo. 2 57 



side on its left flank, so close as almost to be able to touch 

 it with the hand, and fired the heavy revolver into the 

 loins or small of the back, the bullet ranging forward. At 

 the instant of firing, the trained pony swerved off to the 

 left, almost at right angles to its former course, so as to 

 avoid the lunging charge sometimes made by the wounded 

 brute. If the animal kept on, the hunter, having made a 

 half circle, again closed up and repeated the shot ; very 

 soon the buffalo came to a halt, then its head dropped, it 

 straddled widely with its forelegs, swayed to and fro, and 

 pitched heavily forward on its side. The secret of success 

 in this sort of hunting is to go right up by the side of the 

 buffalo ; if a man stays off at a distance of fifteen or 

 twenty feet he may fire a score of shots and not kill or 

 cripple his game. 



While hunting this, the largest of American animals, 

 on horseback is doubtless the most exciting way in which 

 its chase can be carried on, we must beware of crying 

 down its pursuit on foot. To be sure, in the latter case, 

 the actual stalking and shooting the buffalo does not need 

 on the part of the hunter as much skill and as good 

 marksmanship as is the case in hunting most other kinds 

 of large game, and is but a trifle more risky ; yet, on the 

 other hand, the fatigue of following the game is much 

 greater, and the country is usually so wild as to call for 

 some hardihood and ability to stand rough work on the 

 part of the man who penetrates it. 



One September I determined to take a short trip 

 after bison. At that time I was staying in a cow-camp 

 a good many miles up the river from my ranch ; there 



