42 EARLY DAY STORIES. 



was easy to approach them for the wind was favorable and 

 there were trees for shelter, and not far from the place 

 where the buffalo were feeding was a large elm log for 

 cover. After winding about to keep behind the cover of 

 the trees, we finally crawled on hands and knees to the elm 

 log, made ready, counted three and fired, both shots falling 

 short. We were not used to estimating distance on the 

 prairie, and our rifles were of light caliber. The buffalo 

 looked up in a wondering, surprised sort of way gazing at 

 the smoke of our rifles, sniffed the air, and then started off 

 in a heavy, lumbering sort of gallop, and before we could 

 reload were over the next rise of ground out of sight. We 

 did not have buffalo steak for breakfast, but we did have 

 a good time and a good appetite for supper. However, some 

 time after we had buffalo meat in plenty, but this will be 

 told later on. 



Note — Surprise has often been expressed at the scarcity of game along the entire route 

 of the Trail. This scarcity is easily explained. There was abundance of game at no 

 great distance, but it was frightened away from the immediate vicinity of the route, by 

 the sight and scent of the constant stream of wagons, people and stock traversing the 

 road. 



