The Last of the Buffalo 



the butte. Passing the mouth of the little 

 side ravine, however, there came into full 

 view a huge bull lying well up on the hill- 

 side. Luckily his back was toward us ; 

 and, each bending low over his horse's 

 neck, we rode on, and in a moment were 

 hidden by the side of the ravine. Two 

 or three minutes more, and we came to 

 another side ravine, which was wide and 

 commanded a view of the flat. We stopped 

 before reaching this, and a peep showed 

 that we were within a few yards of two 

 old cows, a young heifer, and a yearling, 

 all of them to the north of us. Beyond, 

 we could see the backs of others, all lying 

 down. 



We jumped on our horses again, and, 

 setting the spurs well in, galloped up the 

 ravine and out on the flat ; and as we came 

 into view the nearest buffalo, as if propelled 

 by a huge spring, were on their feet, and, 

 with a second's pause to look, dashed away 

 to the north. Scattered over the flat were 

 fifty or seventy-five buffalo, all of which, 

 by the time we had glanced over the field, 

 were off, with heads hanging low to the 

 ground, and short, spiky tails stretched out 

 behind. We were up even with the last 

 of the cows ; and our horses were running 

 easily, and seemed to have plenty of reserve 



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