i86 THE OX FAMILY 



rifle to the soldier and said I would like to see him kill 

 a calf, but he also missed them repeatedly, and at last 

 gave it up. We of course could have mounted our 

 ponies and easily have killed a calf from the saddle, but 

 game was so abundant we cared little about it, and had 

 our shooting-match from the ground. 



Somewhat later in the day, while we were still rid- 

 ing in the hills overlooking the Rosebud, I discovered 

 a small herd of buffaloes in a little valley or pocket in 

 the hills. Among them there was an immense bull, 

 much larger than any of the others and by far the 

 largest buffalo I ever saw alive or dead. Since I felt 

 sure we could not be far from our camp, 1 decided to 

 kill the great animal with a view to procuring the head 

 and robe. Dismounting, I fired. My aim was a trifle 

 high, as is often the case when one is shooting down, 

 and I saw where the ball struck the ground. My 

 second shot was better, but not a good one. The dust 

 flew from the bison's head. As he started off a third 

 shot brought the dust too high on his side, but my 

 fourth shot brought him down. Walking down the 

 grade, I approached the huge beast with the loaded 

 rifle at the ready, although I was quite sure he would 

 not move again. When, however, I was within a few 

 yards, the bull sprang to his feet and charged. I 

 planted a ball squarely in his front and turned and 

 ran. I was shooting the single-shot Springfield rifle. 

 There was not time to load again. The orderly, gal- 

 loping forward with the ponies, shouted : " He's down 

 again," and I stopped to look about. The huge beast 

 was unable to get up a second time, and soon expired. 



At this time I had killed altogether less than a dozen 



