62 THE BISON. 



the short curved horns and wild gleaming eyes gave a 

 more savage and ferocious appearance. But this ex- 

 pression soon changed when he had made one or tw^o 

 fruitless efforts, and had discovered his inability to 

 rise. His bold look of defiance and anger changed 

 to an aspect of seeming regret, and heart-sick pain. 

 His dark eyes became more mild and beautiful, in ap- 

 pearance as those of a doe. His gaze wandered across 

 the prairie in the direction where the forms of his 

 luiinjured companions were rapidly lessening in the 

 distance. The sight of the sufferings of this gigantic 

 brute cooled my ardour, and for a short space of time 

 more kindly feelings overpowered the hunting instinct 

 which was so strong within me. Had it been in my 

 power, I would, then and there, on the instant, have 

 restored that bull to health and strength, even though 

 well aware that he would immediately have charged 

 at me. In that case I should, at all events, have had 

 the plea of self-defence to lay as flattering unction 

 to my soul. 



The end, however, was at hand. The stream of 

 blood which flowed from the wound drained his 

 strength. He shivered — gave a low moan — and rolled 

 over. A thrill passed through the huge carcase, and 

 all was still. The wild ranger of the prairies was dead. 



I hastily remounted, and galloped forward to escape 

 from the regret which began to steal over me. In 

 the hurry of the chase I soon found relief for my 



