56 THE BISON. 



and the damp causing the powder to adhere to it, 

 would suffice to keep the leaden missile in its place for 

 a short time. 



Off we started in high spirits, while the antelopes, 

 and other small animals, bounded away in alarm ; 

 but as we were in search of buffalo, not one of the 

 party would condescend to waste a shot on such 

 insignificant trifles — even the prong-horns were per- 

 fectly safe. 



Our horses pranced away over the short flower- 

 sprinkled grass, disturbing myriads of humming insecis 

 which flew and buzzed around us, angry at being 

 disturbed from their repast. Then through marshy 

 spots, where tall reeds reached to our shoulders, and 

 would have concealed us entirely had we been dis- 

 mounted, we came to a tract of long waving grass 

 which had escaped the prairie fires of the preceding 

 year, and which now reached a height of from three to 

 four feet. 



Our horses seemed quite as anxious for sport as we. 

 They shook their heads, flourished their tails, and 

 pranced on snorting and pricking up theiji ears in 

 thorough w^antonness and health. A few turkey-buz- 

 zards were seen wheelino: throuofh the /air a lonof 

 distance off, looking no bigger than huftible-bees, as 

 their dark forms stood out like spots upon the white 

 fleecy clouds w]iich were beginning to rise, their pre- 

 sence betokening wind. 



