80 BUFFALO LAND. 



thinly sprinkled with scrubby bushes not larger than 

 jimson-weeds. They were several yards apart, so 

 that each animal was clearl}^ acting on his own 

 responsibility. 



If it puzzled us the day before to discover any 

 signs of game under their noses, it certainly did so 

 now. There was apparently no place of concealment 

 for any object larger than a field-mouse. The bushes 

 were wide apart, and the soil between was a loose 

 sand. Around the roots of the scrubs, it is true, a 

 few thin, wiry spears of grass struggled into existence, 

 but these covered a space not larger than a man's 

 hand, and it seemed preposterous to imagine that 

 they could be capable of aifording cover. That three 

 dogs were pointing straight at three bushes was 

 apparent, but we could see nothing in or about the 

 latter calling for such attention. 



Shamus, who had accompanied us, wished to know 

 if the twigs were witch hazels, because, if so, three 

 invisible old beldames might be taking a nap under 

 them, after a midnight ride. " But, then," said Do- 

 been, "the dog's hairs don't stand on end as they 

 always do in Ireland when they see ghosts and 

 witches." We believe that our worthy cook was 

 really disappointed in not discovering any stray 

 broomsticks lying around. These, he afterward in- 

 formed us, could not be made invisible, though their 

 owners should take on airy shapes unrecognizable by 

 mortal eyes. 



Muggs had suggested urging the dogs in, but the 

 party, wiser from yesterday's experience, desired a 

 ground shot, if it could be secured. The Professor 



