IMPERILLED ENTOMOLOGISTS. 333 



idea was suggested in a letter which the Professor 

 received from his Eastern friends, who thought that 

 actual photographs of the animals inhabiting the 

 plains would be a valuable addition to the ordinary 

 facilities for the study of natural history. As good 

 fortune would have it, there happened to be at Sheri- 

 dan an artist, just arrived from Hays, then prospecting 

 for a location, and him we promptly engaged. The sec- 

 ond dav out, two old buffaloes, near our road, were 

 selected as good subjects for first views. One of these 

 was soon killed, the other making his escape up a ra- 

 vine near by. Although we had good reason to sus- 

 pect that the latter had been wounded, we did not 

 pursue him, since it was now near noon, and our art- 

 ist, moreover, being of a somewhat timid disposition, 

 had expressly stipulated that we should keep near 

 him, not so much, he repeatedly assured us, as a body- 

 guard for himself, as for the protection of his new 

 camera and outfit. 



The dead bull we propped into position with our 

 guns and other supports, and while the artist care- 

 fully adjusted his instrument, Shamus began to make 

 preparations for lunch, and Mr. Colon and Semi set 

 out for a few minutes' pastime in catching bugs. 

 They had been gone a full half hour, and we were 

 just remarking their prolonged absence somewhat 

 impatiently, when a loud cry from the nearer bank 

 of the ravine fell on our ears, and looking around we 

 beheld Colon senior, and ditto junior, making to- 

 ward us at a tremendous rate of speed. 



"Buffalo ! " was all that we could catch of Semi's wild 

 shouts, as he led the chase directly toward us, his 



