BIG JIM'S FOURTH ADVENTURE. 47 



vision. It is so extremely acute, that even the fresh footsteps of a man. 

 crossing their path, are to them a sure cause of alarm and flight. 



Of all the diversities of game indigenous to the mountains and prairies 

 of the great West, with the exception, perhaps, of the grizzly bear, no 

 animal is more tenacious of life than the buffalo. To shoot it in the head, 

 is an inane effort. No rifle can project a ball with sufficient force to per- 

 forate the thick hair and hide to its brain, through the double scull-bone 

 that protects it. A paunch shot is equally vain. The only sure points lor 

 the marksman are, the heart, lights, Iddneys, or vertebrae ; and even then 

 the unyielding victim not unfrequently escapes. 



Buffalo, wounded in the skirts of the lights, have been known to live for 

 several days afterwards. 1 have witnessed their escape, even after the re- 

 ception of fffteen bullet-wonnds, and most of them at such points as would 

 have proved fatal to almost any other anim.al. 



In the summer of '43, I myself killed one of them, that had been shot 

 through the pussy surface at the hutt of the heart, apparently four or ffve 

 days previous, which doubtless would have recovered had it remained un- 

 molested. 



A gun, suitable for killing this kind of game, should never carry to ex- 

 ceed forty bal's to the pound — a lesser bore would be almost entirely use- 

 less. The distance generally required for a shot, the smallness of the 

 bah, its liability to variation irom the wind, with its failure to " hold up " 

 and retain its torce, contribute to render the use of such a piece little else 

 than idle waste of ammunition. 



Oct. 11th. The sun arose bright and clear, and with its first appearance 

 the caravan was in motion. Proceeding up the South Fork some ten miles 

 we halted for breakfast, and made arrangements for fording the stream. 



Near us lay the carcase of one of the cows wounded on the previous 

 evening, and as yet scarcely dead. She had travelled thus far after being 

 shot in the lights. 



Our crossing was effected with little difficulty, but occupied till late in 

 the afternoon. The river was fuff a mile wide and very shallow, with a 

 soft sandy bed, requiring the strength of all the united teams to each wag- 

 gon. Tlie day proved cold, and the water was like an application of ice to 

 the naked skin. Our teamsters, who were compelled to cross and recross, 

 some dozen times, felt in not the best humor, and were better pleased than 

 any one else at the termination of their unpleasant task. 



Having safely gained the opj)osite bank, we travelled up the river ffve 

 or six miles, and halted for the night. 



During our course the bottoms upon either side presented one dense, 

 interminable band of buffalo, far as the eye could reach. The whole prairie 

 pictured a living mass, moved by impulsive dread, as the breeze heralded 

 our approach, and the countless multitude made way before and on either 

 hand. 



Ever and anon, an old bull would linger, as if to intimidate, and not un- 

 frequently venture within gun-shot. One fellow, in particular, passed side- 

 long, for a mile or more, stopping at intervals to gaze upon us, shaking his 

 shaggy head in defiance, as much as to say, " you dare not come near !" 



Big Jim saw this, and his pride was wounded. The bull, in his opinion, 



