THE STORY OF THE BUFFALO. 



135 



qtiently, indeed, trains on that line were derailed in attempting to pass through 

 herds of bnffalo', until the engineers learned it was advisable to bring their 

 engines to a standstill when they found the line blocked in this manner. 



When I was on the Arkansas river in 1867 the whole country appeared one 

 great mass of buffalo moving slowly to the northward ; and it was only when 

 actually among them that it could be ascertained that the apparently solid mass 

 was an agglomeration of numerous small herds, of from fifty to two hundred 

 animals, separated from the surrounding herds by greater or less space, but still 



A FAMILY OF AMERICAN BUFFALO OR BISON. 



separated. The buffalo on the hills, seeing an unusual object in their rear, 

 started at full speed directly towards me, stampeding and bringing with them 

 the numberless herds through which they passed, and pouring down upon all 

 the herds, noi longer separated, but one immense compact mass of plunging 

 animals. 



In their periodical journeys across the country in search of water regular 

 tracks were formed by the buffalo, and as the water was approached several 



