BUFFALO SINKING IN QUICKSANDS. 47 



When a herd of buffalo are alarmed by the approach of 

 the hunter, the cows, in a few seconds, head the retreating 

 herd, closely followed by the yearlings and calves, while 

 the lumbering old bulls, from incapacity, drop in the rear. 

 When not disturbed, in lying down or rising, they exactly 

 resemble others of the Bos family ; but if they be come 

 upon unawares by an object of fear, the velocity with 

 which they gain their legs and break into a gallop is truly 

 surprising. They are excellent swimmers, and have no hes- 

 itation to enter water; nevertheless, annually, great num- 

 bers are drowned ; but this generally occurs in spring, when 

 the broken ice is clearing out of the streams. 



Throughout the Western country there are numerous 

 quicksands, and frequently unfortunates get imbedded in 

 them. It appears in such cases that, without exerting 

 themselves, they submit to their fate. I have formed this 

 conclusion from having, unseen, perceived a bull get into 

 such a scrape. I watched him. Inch by inch he kept sink- 

 ing ; still I felt convinced that a protracted, energetic strug- 

 gle would take him across to terra firma; yet no such 

 effort did he make. Thoroughly believing that his earthly 

 course was run, I advanced to have a closer survey of the 

 finale. The unfortunate did not see me till within a few 

 yards ; but when he did, his habitual fear of man predomi- 

 nated over all other feelings ; again and again he plunged 

 forward. Dread of my proximity had given him strength 

 and endurance ; for, after a few minutes, his feet got on 

 soundings, from which the margin was gained, and the 

 brute was once more free. I think this apathy to death in 

 certain forms is common to the majority of animals. 



The dangers attending the chase of this noble game are 

 very much overrated. True, a horse may put his foot in 

 the burrow of a wolf, swift fox, or prairie-dog, and send his 

 rider sky-rocketing. The result may be a broken neck, or, 



