392 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CBAP. 



seclusion of the forest ; therefore, shortly after sunrise, we found 

 ourselves upon the level ground about 500 feet above the valley. 

 The formation was peculiar ; the plateau represented an immense 

 terrace, as other ridges rose above it, until the highest point formed 

 a prominent figure in the general outline of the landscape. Al- 

 though the surface was sufficiently level for a horse to gallop at 

 full speed, there were many slight depressions where the ground had 

 been water-worn by streams during heavy rains or melting snows. 

 Bears were regular visitors, as many of the flat stones had been 

 turned over in their search for insects. There were tracks of wapiti, 

 also of buffaloes and black-tail deer, therefore I felt tolerably san- 

 guine of finding game in some of the ravines that opened upon this 

 extensive terrace from the neighbouring hills. 



As we rode leisurely along through the centre of this barren 

 area, we frequently halted to scan the country with binoculars. 

 Upon one of these occasions my attention had been attracted by a 

 dark-coloured object in the distance, which I imagined to be a bear, 

 or some large rock which had deceived me by its resemblance. 

 The glasses decided that this was a buffalo. It was more than a 

 mile distant, but for simple amusement, as it lay in the direction 

 we were taking, I determined to see if we could approach near 

 enough for a certain shot. The wind was fair, therefore we took 

 no precautions, but simply rode forward until within a distance of 

 1200 yards. I now made out that the buffalo was advancing in 

 our direction ; there was a dry bed of a stream before us, and I 

 suggested that we should dismount, and conceal the horses and 

 ourselves within this natural channel, to wait for the arrival of the 

 buffalo. This was quickly arranged, and we descended into the 

 river's bed. 



By peering over the bank, I made out the exact direction that 

 the buffalo was taking, and by changing my position accordingly, 

 I had the satisfaction of seeing a fine bull approaching me, without 

 the slightest suspicion of impending danger. Presently it descended 

 into the channel within 40 paces of the rifle, which as usual I had 

 pointed at the shoulder, without the slightest intention of pulling 

 the trigger. The animal obtained my wind, or saw me, and with 

 a snort it threw up its tail, and galloped off across the plain, leaving 

 me quite satisfied at having bagged it mentally, without the ex- 

 penditure of a cartridge, or the useless sacrifice of a life. 



We remounted, and rode forward, scanning as before every nook 

 and corner of the country. We had not proceeded far when I 

 made out another buffalo ; this lay in our route, therefore without 

 taking the trouble to notice it, we rode straight forward. When 



