The Lordly Buffalo 287 



mist shrouded us and hid from sight all distant 

 objects; and at times there were heavy downpours 

 of rain. Before we had gone any distance we be- 

 came what is termed by backwoodsmen or plains- 

 men, "turned round," and the creeks suddenly 

 seemed to be running the wrong way; after which 

 we traveled purely by the compass. 



For some hours we kept a nearly straight course 

 over the formless, shapeless plain, all drenched 

 through, and thoroughly uncomfortable; then as 

 we rose over a low divide the fog lifted for a few 

 minutes, and we saw several black objects slowly 

 crossing some rolling country ahead of us, and a 

 glance satisfied us they were buffalo. The horses 

 were picketed at once, and we ran up as near the 

 game as we dared, and then began to stalk them, 

 creeping forward on our hands and knees through 

 the soft, muddy prairie soil, while a smart shower of 

 rain blew in our faces, as we advanced up wind. 

 The country was favorable, and we got within less 

 than a hundred yards of the nearest, a large cow, 

 though we had to creep along so slowly that we 

 were chilled through, and our teeth chattered be- 

 hind our blue lips. To crown my misfortunes, I 

 now made one of those misses which a man to his 

 dying day always looks back upon with wonder and 

 regret. The rain was beating in my eyes, and the 

 drops stood out in the sight of the rifle so that I 

 could hardly draw a bead; and I either overshot 

 or else at the last moment must have given a ner- 

 vous jerk and pulled the rifle clear off the mark. 



