HUNTING THE BUFFALO. 455 



passage over the plains of the crowded passenger cars, which 

 keep the air constantly impregnated for long distances. 



Having satisfied himself in regard to the wind, the sports- 

 man should take advantage of the ravines and slight depres- 

 sions, which every-where abound on the plains, and approach 

 as near the herd as possible. If mounted, let him gain every 

 obtainable inch before making the charge. It is an egregious 

 blunder to go dashing over the prairie for half a mile or so, 

 in full view of the game, and thus give it the advantage of a 

 long start. When this is done, unless your animal is a supe- 

 rior one, he will be winded and left behind. 



In most cases, careful planning will place one within a 

 couple of hundred yards of the bison. Be sure that every 

 weapon is ready for the hand, and then charge. Put your 

 horse to full speed as soon as practicable. Place him beside 

 the buifalo, and he can easily keep there; whereas, if you 

 nurse his pace at the first, and make it a stern chase, both 

 your animal and yourself, should you have the rare luck of 

 catching up at all, will be jaded completely before doing so. 

 In shooting from the saddle, be very careful between shots, 

 and keep the muzzle of the weapon in some other direction 

 than your horse or your feet. A sudden jolt, or a nervous 

 finger, often causes a premature discharge. In taking aim, 

 draw your bead well forward on the buffalo — if possible, a 

 little behind the fore-shoulder. The vital organs being situa- \ 



ted there, a ranging shot will hit some of them, on one side 

 or the other. Back of the ribs, the buffalo will receive a 

 dozen balls without being checked. A discharge of bullets 

 into the hind-quarters, is worse than useless. 



While trying in the most enjoyable and ])ractical manner 

 to kill the game, it is very necessary to escape, if possible, 



