82 STORIES OF BIltDS AND BEASTS 



all, live wild in the Yellowstone Park. A hundred 

 more are scattered here and there in kind captivity, 

 where they may live for some time, but lose their type 

 and spirits like the captive Indians. Now you may 

 travel the plains from New Mexico north and see no 

 other trace of the Buffalo than a weather-beaten skull, 

 the perch for a burrowing Owl, or the retreat of the 

 other king, the Rattlesnake. 



"As the Buffalo vanished, the Indian as a freeman 

 vanished also ; his wild beef is gone and he is given 

 rations in begrudged charity. Once both Buffalo and 

 Indian might have been developed to useful citizens ; 

 now, if we succeed in preserving either race, it will be 

 only as captives. The kingdom of each is destroyed, 

 and the people of this land are not blameless." 



" It's a very sad story, and I'm afraid the left-over 

 Buffaloes won't like it very well even in the new Zool- 

 ogy Garden," said Dodo, attacking the word bravely, 

 but missing it. "Any sort of land with a fence 

 around it must seem crampy for them. I'm very glad, 

 anyhow, that I saw those at the circus." 



