MONARCHS IN EXILE 73 



did. You know if Nanny Baa starts to run all the 

 other sheep follow her, where, it does not matter 

 to them." 



" Yes, and I've noticed that they all try to get 

 through the same hole in the wall, or pack tight into 

 some little corner." 



" The grass was best in the valleys along the water- 

 courses, and you would expect the Buffaloes to stay in 

 such places ; but they were stupid even in their search 

 for food, and wandered out on the dry plains where the 

 grass that bore their name was turned to standing hay 

 by drought and heat. 



" The Buffalo had no private life ; his time was 

 spent in a crowd from the time in spring, when as an 

 awkward calf he found it difficult to keep up with the 

 herd in its march, until his life was ended either by 

 rushing with the stampeding herd into an engulfing bog, 

 or, if straggling from the herd, wounded or feeble he 

 fell a victim to the grim gray Wolves who were as the 

 Buffaloes' shadows, following them ceaselessly. 



"The fact that the Buffaloes grazed far and wide 

 made their daily march to the watercourses a ceremony 

 of great importance, and their kingdom was furrowed 

 deeply by these trails worn by innumerable feet as 

 they all followed their leader to the chosen watering- 

 place." 



" How did they choose their leader ? " asked Dodo. 



" Why, the strongest bull, of course," said Nat. 



" No, on the contrary, the leader whom they trusted 

 was often some wise old cow. When she gave the 

 signal, the feeding stopped, off they all marched, per- 

 haps miles across country until water was reached, 



