36 PEAIKIE AND FOREST. . 



When a herd of buffalo are alarmed by the approach of 

 the hunter, the cows, in a few seconds, head the retreating 

 herd, closely followed by the yearlings and calves, while 

 the lumbering old bulls, from incapacity, drop in the rear. 

 When not disturbed, in lying down or rising, they exactly 

 resemble others of the Bos family ; but if they be come 

 upon unawares by an object of fear, the velocity with 

 which they gain their legs and break into a gallop is truly 

 surprising. They are excellent swimmers, and have no 

 hesitation to enter water; nevertheless, annually, great 

 numbers are drowned ; but this generally occurs in spring, 

 when the broken ice is clearing out of the streams. 



Throughout the western country there are numerous 



quicksands, and frequently unfortunates get embedded in 



them. It appears in such cases that, without exerting 



themselves, they submit to their fate. I have formed this 



conclusion from having, unseen, perceived a bull get into 



such a scrape. I watched him. Inch by inch he kept 



sinking ; still I felt convinced that a protracted, energetic 



struggle would take him across to terra Jirma ; yet no 



such effort did he make. Thoroughly believing that his 



earthly course was run, I advanced to have a closer survey 



of the finale. The unfortunate did not see me till within 



a few yards ; but when he did, his habitual fear of man 



predominated over all other feelings ; again and again he 



plunged forward. Dread of my proximity had given him 



strength and endurance ; for, after a few minutes, his feet 



got on soundings, from which the margin was gained, and 



the brute was once more free. I think this apathy to death 



in certain forms is common to the majority of animals. 



