xv THE AMERICAN BUFFALO 285 



I rode with my wife across the same valley, but we ascended 

 the range of hills upon our right, from which we could embrace an 

 immense extent of country, and I immediately perceived a long 

 green line, winding through the yellowish grass, between low hills, 

 like a velvet ribbon. I knew this would represent a stream. 

 Upon our left was a descent of 600 or 700 feet into a deep dell, 

 at the bottom of which a similar green thread betokened water ; 

 this joined almost at right angles the original green line, after 

 which the stream continued along a dark ravine, until lost in the 

 thick forest of spruce firs, almost beneath the spot upon which we 

 stood. 



At the distance of about 1-*- mile I could distinguish four black 

 objects upon the face of a knoll to the right of the green ribbon, 

 and upon an examination with my binoculars I discovered them to 

 be four buffaloes lying down upon the yellow grass, about 50 yards 

 to the right of the small stream. I immediately arranged that 

 Lady Baker should take the people and camp below the forest on 

 our left, while I should endeavour to stalk the buffaloes and procure 

 some meat for our first dinner. There was high ground between 

 the two green streaks, which formed almost a triangle from the 

 apex of their junction, therefore the distance across the base, from 

 the buffaloes to the camp, would not be above a mile. 



We separated. Upon arrival at the bottom of the steep hill, I 

 found the water, as I had expected, running in a clear stream only 

 a few inches deep, between green rushes ; following this for some 

 little distance, I arrived at the junction, and I then ascended the 

 larger stream. I was accompanied by my hunter, Jem Bourne, 

 and we had sent our horses, together with the pack animals, to the 

 proposed camping-spot. My long riding boots made walking most 

 unpleasant, as the grassy slopes were slippery in the absence of 

 nailed soles. By preference I waded up the shallow stream, until 

 we considered that the animals were sufficiently near to detect the 

 sound of splashing. We at length arrived at a mound which I 

 had particularly remarked, owing to the presence of a large rock, 

 which I had at first mistaken for some wild animal. I knew that 

 the buffaloes, when we first saw them, were lying down upon the 

 slope on the other side of this unmistakable position. Quitting the 

 low bed of the stream, I now carefully ascended the steep slope, 

 stooping low until I neared the summit. There was very little 

 wind, but it was in our favour. Gradually, upon nearing the top 

 of the knoll, I raised myself; at the same moment there was a 

 rushing sound of heavy feet, and the next instant I saw the four 

 buffaloes going at full speed down the slope towards the small stream 



