122 THE BUFFALO. 



an entrance is left about 10 feet wide, with a deep trench 

 across it, on the outside of which there is a strong trunk of a 

 tree placed, about a foot from the ground. The animals, on 

 being driven in, leap over this, clearing the trench, which of 

 course prevents them from returning. From the entrance 

 two rows of bushes or posts, which are called '' dead men," 

 diverge towards the direction from which the buffaloes are 

 likely to come. They are placed from 20 feet to 50 feet 

 apart, and the distance between the extremities of the two 

 rows at their outer termination is nearly two miles. Behind 

 each of these " dead men " an Indian is stationed, to prevent 

 the buffaloes when passing up the avenue from breaking out. 

 Meantime, the hunters, mounted on fleet horses, range the 

 country to a distance of eighteen or twenty miles in search 

 of a herd. The buffalo has an unaccountable propensity which 

 makes him endeavour to cross in front of the hunter's horse. 

 They will frequently, indeed, follow a horseman for miles in 

 order to do so. He thus possesses an unfailing means, by a 

 dexterous management of his horse, of conducting the animals 

 into the trap prepared for them. The men also conceal them- 

 selves in hollows and depressions in the ground, so as to assist 

 in turning the herd, should they attempt to escape in that 

 direction. And now some three or four hundi-ed head of 

 shaggy monsters are driven to the expanded mouth of the 

 avenue. The horsemen follow in their rear, and prevent them 

 turning back. Meantime the Indians stationed behind the 

 " dead men" rise, shaking their bows, yelling, and urging them 

 on. Thus they proceed, madly rushing on, the passage grow- 

 ing narrower and narrower, while they, pressed together, are 

 unable to see the dano^er ahead. The foremost at leno-th 

 reach the fatal ditch, and leaping ovei', enter the pound, the 



