146 HUNTING TRIPS 



course over the formless, shapeless plain, 

 drenched through, and thoroughly uncom- 

 fortable ; then as we rose over a low divide 

 the fog lifted for a few minutes, and we 

 saw several black objects slowly crossing 

 some rolling country ahead of us, and a 

 glance satisfied us they were buffalo. The 

 horses were picketed at once, and we ran up 

 as near the game as we dared, and then 

 began to stalk them, creeping forward on 

 our hands and knees through the soft, 

 muddy prairie soil, while a smart shower 

 of rain blew in our faces, as we advanced 

 up wind. The country was favorable, and 

 we got within less than a hundred yards of 

 the nearest, a large cow, though we had to 

 creep along so slowly that we were chilled 

 through, and our teeth chattered behind our 

 blue lips. To crown my misfortunes, I 

 now made one of those misses which a man 

 to his dying day always looks back upon 

 with wonder and regret. The rain was 

 beating in my eyes, and the drops stood out 

 in the sight of the rifle so that I could 



