234 The King of the Thundering Herd 



along the steamboat wharves, and upon the 

 platforms at the different depots the skins 

 were piled up like cord-wood, just as they 

 had been a few years before in Arkansas 

 and Indian Territory. 



From point to point the hunted bison 

 fled, his grazing-grounds gradually narrow- 

 ing down, and his numbers decreasing by 

 millions each year. Finally he was driven 

 entirely out of Kansas and Nebraska and 

 partially out of what is now South Dakota, 

 taking refuge in North Dakota and Mon- 

 tana. But even here he was pursued. 

 There was to be no rest for him as long as 

 he wore that thick warm robe, which could 

 be made to serve man in so many ways. 



The Indian had killed him merely for 

 food and utensils, but the white man slaugh- 

 tered him wastefully for the hide. Often 

 he killed more than he could skin, and the 

 robe rotted on its wearer. 



Still from point to point they were pur- 



