A PANOEAMA OF LIFE AND MOTION. 49 



bracing air, the sense of freedom, were so many elixirs and 

 tonics. 



Before long a rogue bull, who looked almost black 

 sure sign of fatness caught my eye. I watched him a 

 long time as he wandered about grazing. As well as 

 could be judged from a distance, his hide was just what I 

 wanted. A short careful stalk brought me nearer to him. 

 Yes, I was right. I slipped along a hollow, and got still 

 nearer. When I took another observation the bull had 

 left off feeding, and was walking straight along with an 

 air of quiet deliberate intention, just as if he was going 

 somewhere. Undoubtedly he was on his way to a watering 

 place to drink. A judicious ambush and ordinary luck would 

 ensure me a close shot. I took his direction, made a long 

 detour at the double to his front, and laid myself down to 

 await events. 



I had chosen a hollow, so as to get as long grass to lie 

 in as possible, but on the upland prairie it was everywhere 

 very short; even where I was it compelled me to lie as 

 flat as possible, and trust entirely to my ears, for a head 

 slightly raised even would have been instantly seen by an 

 advancing animal. 



By-and-by I got tired. I had heard nothing but the 

 distant noises of the herd and trifling local sounds. Perhaps 

 the bull had altered his course ; perhaps but under such 

 circumstances it was no use perhapsing. I gently raised my 

 head. 



There he was. Not a hundred yards off, but there, right 

 in front of me, close to me. 



