136 JUNCTION OF THE WATERS. 



vinegar. For many miles after they have joined the 

 waters of the two streams can be distinguished the one 

 from the other. Now, then, as we stemmed the direct 

 path on the Missouri river to the bison's domain, I felt 

 myself prone to ponder over some of the stories I had 

 been told of them, even though we were passing the 

 spot where St Louis and Capt. Clarke wintered during 

 the first exploring party, and the cave that had sheltered 

 them. The banks just at this portion of the voyage 

 were beautifully wooded, with bold high rocks to the 

 water's edge, breaking from the surrounding foliage, and 

 rendering the scene enchanting. On the buffalo or 

 bison, however, my thoughts chiefly ran, and I mentally 

 dwelt on a tale that had been told me, namely, that one 

 hundred thousand buffaloes were computed as the num 

 bers annually slain by man ! Let my readers conceive a 

 herd of these huge ferocious-looking animals reckoned 

 at ten thousand strong I have been told that at times 

 they have been seen so collected and then a panic seizing 

 the leaders of the throng, always those most prone to 

 fear, cows, heifers, and calves; imagine their flight en 

 masse, or " stampede," charging blindly on anything in 

 their way, the rear propelling the front, and of course 

 only the first few aware of any obstacle to their head 

 long course. When a " stampede" to this amount 

 directs its charge on the line of march of the United 

 States' army in crossing the plains, the great guns have 

 been obliged to open on the head of the advancing 

 column to turn them from their way; for, when thus 

 rushing madly on, had there been a collision, baggage- 

 waggons, guns, and any living or dead thing that came 

 in their way, would have been trampled to atoms. 

 What sport it would have been, I thought, to have 



