The Thundering Herd 63 



the hands of nature upon his appearance in 

 the world. 



It was a never-to-be-forgotten picture, of 

 the old King standing upon the crest of a 

 distant swell, chewing his cud, while the 

 westering sun surrounded him with a halo 

 and painted the sky above him in most 

 gorgeous colors. The boys gazed at him 

 with wondering eyes until the after-glow 

 faded, and the dark figure on the crest of the 

 swell was merged in the gathering gloom. 



The next glimpse of the bison was like- 

 wise just at dusk. They had turned out of 

 their course, going nearly five miles to the 

 south for wood and water. These they 

 found upon the banks of a broad brawling 

 river, which proved to be none other than 

 the Missouri. At this point it was lined 

 by high bluffs, partially wooded. On the 

 northern bank, from which the Andersons 

 approached, the slope was gradual as the 

 country fell away to the river for half a 



