THE BISON. 99 



fragments of the tender green shoots 

 which had dropped from their mouths 

 as they browsed upwards ; but on either 

 side the trail it was impossible to see 

 a yard, so dense was the canebrake. 

 Still we followed, creeping on more and 

 more carefully. At last we stopped in 

 uncertainty: a strong atmosphere as 

 of a cow-house surrounded us, and we 

 became conscious that we were in the 

 midst of the herd. We listened and 

 peered round intently, but could 

 neither see anything nor hear a sound. 

 Then on a sudden there was a rush 

 like thunder, and we all crouched low, 

 expecting to be trampled down. The 

 thicket crashed and swayed, and the 

 stones clattered down as the avalanche 

 of bison swept by us and round us ; 



