KEAL SPEED OF THE BISON. 257 



pulled up, and went slowly in the direction of Bayard. 

 In meeting these scared buffaloes retreating from Bayard, 

 I at once learnt that when we are in chase of a large herd 

 the herd never goes as fast as it can go, and for this rea 

 son : the leading buffaloes, always the cows and calfs and 

 barren heifers, are not at first aware of the immediate pre 

 sence and pressure of danger, when, as the bulls always 

 follow in their wake, taking the pace from them, and act 

 ing as their rearguard, we overhaul them easily in a 

 hand-gallop. Not so with these eleven old bulls they 

 had been made aware of danger ; and it was with a great 

 struggle that Sylph, tired as she was, outpaced them ; 

 and as to my pony, which my man Phill rode, carrying 

 my stalking rifle in case I should need it, he found that 

 he could scarce keep near enough to see [which way 

 we went, and expressed his wonder at the speed of the 

 buffaloes. 



Soon afterwards I came in sight of Bayard, standing 

 by the body of a fine old bull, excessively disgusted with 

 Mr Canterall, who as usual, having failed to kill a bison 

 himself, came up just as Bayard had mortally stricken 

 his bull and brought him to a dying bay, when, instead 

 of leaving Bayard to finish him, Mr Canterall shot into 

 the foe already half slain, and seemed to think he had 

 done a clever thing. As to this, he got a caution from 

 me for the future. The etiquette among hunters is, never 

 to interfere with an already safe animal unless told to do 

 so. It was dark when we reached the camp, horses and 

 men all tired; but my strength improved, though the 

 lassitude from which I had suffered for some days still 

 hung about me, but it did not prevent my enjoying my 

 dinner. At night, before it had long been dark, the 



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