THE BISON OR AMERICAN BUFFALO. 17 



hunter began firing, still keeping himself 

 carefully concealed. If the smoke was blown 

 away by the wind, and if the buffaloes caught 

 no glimpse of the assailant, they would often 

 stand motionless and stupid until many of 

 their number had been slain, the hunter being 

 careful not to fire too high, aiming just behind 

 the shoulder, about a third of the way up the 

 body, that his bullet might go through the 

 lungs. Sometimes, even after they saw the 

 man, they would act as if confused and panic- 

 struck, huddling together and staring at the 

 smoke puffs ; but generally they were off at a 

 lumbering gallop as soon as they had an idea 

 of the point of danger. When once started, 

 they ran for many miles before halting, and 

 their pursuit on foot was extremely laborious. 

 One morning my cousin and brother had 

 been left in camp as guards. They were 

 sitting idly warming themselves in the first 

 sunbeams, when their attention was sharply 

 drawn to four buffalo.es that were coming to 

 the pool to drink. The beasts came down a 

 game trail, a deep rut in the bluff, fronting 

 where they were sitting, and they did not dare 

 to stir for fear of being discovered. The 

 buffaloes walked into the pool, and after drink- 

 ing their fill, stood for some time with the 

 water running out of their mouths, idly lashing 

 their sides with their short tails, enjoying the 

 bright warmth of the early sunshine ; then, 

 with much splashing and the gurgling of soft 

 mud, they left the pool and clambered up the 

 bluff with unwieldy agility. As soon as they 

 2 



