138 THE STORY OF THE BUFFALO. 



feeble condition, and, banding together, easily pull it to the ground and tear 

 it to pieces. But the buffalo does not succumb to its foes without an effort 

 to preserve Its fast-ebbing life. Bold and gallant to the last, staggering to his 

 sole remaining spot of vantage ground, the feeble knees bending beneath the 

 weight of the mighty body — weak with loss of blood, yet still unconquered — 

 the noble bull tosses his fierce-looking head and bids defiance to his lurking- 

 foes. With eager, bloodshot eyes, and the keen white fangs glistening in their 

 powerful jaws, the wolves set on him from every side. By sudden springs they 

 seize and tear his flesh with their sharp teeth, darting away too quickly to be 

 injured by horn or hoof. Vain are his efforts tO' reach the nimble assailants, 

 until, summoning all his remaining strength, he rushes upon one that, more 

 daring than the rest^ attacks him in front, and even in the act of trampling 

 him down, falls upon the body of his prostrate foe, too feeble to carry out the 

 unequal combat. Never will he rise again, for instantly the angry wolves 

 fairly swarm upon him, and soon nothing will be left to tell of the mighty 

 buffalo but a well picked skeleton whitening in the summer sun. 



Mounted on a swift horse, and armed with a spear and bow and arrows, 

 the Indians killed great numbers of these animals. They rode up close to the 

 buffalo, and with the greatest apparent ease buried an arrow up to its feather in 

 the creature's body. Indeed many instances are known where the slight Indian 

 bow, draw^n without any perceptible effort, has thrown the arrow completely 

 through the body of the huge animal. Many modes of destroying this animal 

 were in vogue among the Indians and white settlers. The skin was so valuable 

 that every exertion was made to procure it. Of the buffalo's hide they made 

 their wigwams or tents, their shields, their robes, their shoes, etc. The Indians 

 could also sell the hides to the traders for a considerable sum, so that an Indian 

 would almost measure his importance and wealth by the number of hides that 

 he took. 



Their ferocity of appearance was not evident in the buffaloes' true nature, 

 for their disposition was sluggish and fearful. Endowed with the smallest 

 possible amount of instinct, the little the buffalo has seems adapted rather for 

 getting him into difficulties than out of them. If not alarmed at the sight or 

 smell of a foe, he will stand stupidly gazing at his companions in their death- 

 throes, until the whole herd is shot down. He will walk unconsciously in a 

 quicksand or quagmire already choked with struggling, dying victims. Hav- 

 ing made up his mind to go a certain way, it is almost impossible to swerve 

 him from his purpose. 



The flesh of the buffalo is tolerable eatin"^, but the "hump" is unai^proacJ^i- 



