BUFFALOES 



THE great herds of buffalo were a thing 

 of the past. All that remained of these 

 huge animals were a few scattered, small 

 herds, each consisting of not more than one or 

 two dozen individuals. These stupid monarchs 

 of the plains, after millions of their noble family 

 had been slaughtered, had learned to keep close 

 to the canons and away from the relentless robe- 

 hunter and the Indian. 



A little band of three cows and six old bulls 

 made their feeding-ground near our claim. 

 They were often seen mingling with the domestic 

 cattle when they roamed over the prairie during 

 the fall and winter. As I repeatedly watched 

 them feeding at a distance over the divide, I 

 was moved to sympathy and pity for the poor 

 brutes that in so short a time had been reduced 



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