THE BUFFALO AT BAY. 37 



a great trial ; but I had the satisfaction of learning 

 that my surmises of her parentage were correct, her 

 sire being thorough-bred, and her dam a mustang. 



When buffalo are so severely wounded as to feel 

 incapacitated from further flight, they w r ill then occa- 

 sionally turn to bay. When this takes place, unless 

 the animal be an old bull, you may safely conclude the 

 wound mortal, and that but an hour or two will elapse 

 before death comes to their relief ; but if you be 

 desirous to terminate the final sufferings, when dis- 

 mounted, be very cautious how you approach to 

 deliver the coup ; for, with velocity almost marvellous, 

 they will dash at their tormentor, gathering all their 

 energy for the occasion. A bull I had disabled stood 

 at bay, and, judging from appearances, was within a 

 few moments of expiring ; blood flowed profusely 

 from his nose, and already he had commenced to 

 straddle his legs to support his towering carcass. 

 Carelessly I approached. The manner of the rider 

 was infectious on the steed. When twenty yards 

 distant from me, down went his head, and at me he 

 sprang. The activity of the horse alone saved me \ 

 and the shave was so close as to be far from pleasant. 

 It was a cleverly executed charge, and a fitting finale 

 to life. The impetus of his motion he was unable to 

 control. The strength of the body was unequal to 

 his courage of heart ; for, ere he could halt, over he 

 rolled to rise no more. In hunting, as in civilised life, 

 it is dangerous to trust in appearances we know how 

 often they are deceptive. But there are other dangers 

 to be apprehended on the buffalo range; viz., the 

 Indians, who are so cunning and treacherous that the 

 hunter must ever be on his guard. The following 



