THE BISON. 105 



was broad, the mouth wide, the eyes 

 goggle, and the ears were large and 

 projecting. But this unpromising taber- 

 nacle was the abode of a gallant spirit, 

 and I could count upon Manoel in any 

 moment of danger. I had often trouble 

 in restraining him from taking dan- 

 gerous liberties with wounded animals. 

 No doubt a life in or near great forests, 

 where wild animals abound, leads to a 

 certain familiarity with their nature 

 and habits which enables men so situated 

 to know exactly how far they may 

 count on the fear or indifference of wild 

 beasts ; but to lay hold of a wounded 

 bison by the horn is scarcely to be 

 justified on those grounds. 



An example ,of a different kind will 

 show, however, that there was nothing 



