166 The King of the Thundering Herd 



the trip or some other silent influence, this 

 autumn marked a change in the disposition 

 of Buck. Of course it was gradual, but it 

 was nevertheless sure. 



Before the buffalo had been as stolid as 

 an ox, all patience, slow in his movements, 

 slow to comprehend, and never ruffled by 

 anything. Never had he shown the slight- 

 est sign of temper up to this autumn. 



But he now became restive. He would 

 sometimes stamp the ground and paw as 

 though irritated by something. He would 

 also jerk his head and twitch his tail when 

 the whip flicked him, as though impatient 

 of being goaded about by this ever-tickling 

 lash. 



At first Bennie thought his collar must 

 hurt him and readjusted it, but that made 

 no difference. Buck was clearly out of 

 sorts with the world, or with his lot, or with 

 something. 



He would not stand the teasing of his 



