314 BUFFALO LAND. 



in a white cloud that streams farther and higher than 

 the dust of the old stage-coach ever did; and then, 

 having determined its course, instead of fleeing back 

 to the distant valleys, away they go, charging across 

 the ridge over which the iron rails lie, apparently 

 determined to cross in front of the locomotive at all 

 hazards. The rate per mile of passenger trains is 

 slow upon the plains, and hence it often happens that 

 the cars and buffalo will be side by side for a mile or 

 two, the brutes abandoning the effort to cross only 

 when their foe has merged entirely ahead. During 

 these races the car-windows are opened, and numer- 

 ous breech-loaders fling hundreds of bullets among 

 the densely crowded and flying masses. Many of the 

 poor animals fall, and more go off to die in the ra- 

 vines. The train speeds on, and the scene is repeated 

 every few miles until Buffalo Land is passed. 



Another method of wanton slaughter is the stalk- 

 ing of the herds by men carrying needle-guns. These 

 throw a ball double the weight of the ordinary 

 carbine, and the shot is effective at six hundred 

 yards. Concealed in ravines, the hunter causes ter- 

 rible havoc with such weapons before the herd takes 

 flight. We were never guilty of ambushing after 

 those two days on the Saline, and of those occasions 

 we were heartily ashamed ever afterward. 



One specialty of the plains that deserves mention, 

 and quite as remarkable as its brutes and plants, 

 though of rather more modern origin, is its numer- 

 ous Bills. Of these, we became acquainted, before 

 our trip was ended, with the following distinct speci- 

 mens: Wild Bill, Buffalo Bill, California Bill, 



