60 BUFFALO LAND. 



gether in an ague quartette, and 'is tail look at it ! 

 It's hincapable of knocking a fly off; looks more like 

 flying off hitself ! " Muggs further declared the sale 

 was an attempt on the owner's part to evade the 

 health officer, who would have been around, in a 

 couple of days, to have the carcass removed. 



The auctioneer waxed belligerent, the crowd noisy, 

 and Muggs, like a true Englishman, secured peace 

 at the price of British gold. The horse was on his 

 hands, having barely escaped being on the town, 

 and an enthusiastic crowd of urchins escorted the 

 purchase to a livery stable. Muggs christened the 

 animal Cynocephalus, and soon afterward sold him to 

 Mr. Colon, who was of an economical turn, for the 

 use of his son Semi. 



"I have heard," said the thoughtful father, "that 

 the buffalo grass of the plains is very nourishing. 

 All that the poor steed needs is care and fat pastures. 

 Semi can give him the former, and over the latter 

 our future journey lies. I have also learned that 

 what is especially needed in a hunting horse is 

 steadiness, and this quality the animal certainly 

 possesses." 



From some months' acquaintance with the pur- 

 chase, we can say that Cynocephalus was steady to a 

 remarkable degree. We are firmly persuaded that a 

 heavy battery might have fired a salute over his back 

 without moving him, unless, possibly, the concussion 

 knocked him down. 



Our first hunting morning, the second day pre- 

 ceding our hegira westward, came to us with a clear 

 sky, the sun shedding a mellow warmth, and the air 



