178 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



the grass countries, across three thousand miles of water 

 and fifteen hundred of land far beyond the giant Missis- 

 sippi, to the illimitable prairies of the Far West I wish you, 

 in thought, to travel. Imagine a boundless expanse of un- 

 dulating land, covered with grass ; here and there a sparse 

 scattering of brush, with perhaps one or two lines of timber 

 that mark the margin of tributaries of some mighty river, 

 and you have the landscape without entering into detail. 

 What a place for a gallop ! what a place for a buffalo run, 

 or any other kind of run that will give your mettlesome 

 nag an opportunity of showing his pluck and endurance. 

 But take care; don't ride with a slack rein; keep your 

 eyes open ; all may look plain sailing from the distance, but 

 on closer inspection you may come upon a densely popu- 

 lated dog town, or collection of coyote earths, each hole of 

 which is big enough to use a Newfoundland in for a fox 

 terrier. 



Wolves of each species are found numerous all over this 

 elysium; game is abundant, .and the marauder is always on 

 its track looking out for the feeble or unfortunate. Skulk- 

 ing scoundrels are these members of the canine fraternity, 

 and cunning withal; keen and successful hunters if neces- 

 sary, but addicted to idleness ; for if they can obtain their 

 dinner at others' expense, they are always ready to sacrifice 

 their principle, and sponge, upon the first acquaintance. If 

 you go out for pleasure, or with the desire of replenishing 

 your larder, you are certain to be attended ; you can not 

 get away from camp without their watchful eyes detecting 

 you. As you rise one knoll you may observe the escort 

 topping the last, and intently keeping all your movements 

 under their observation. Full well do they know that if 

 bulfalo or deer fall before your rifle, on the refuse that you 

 reject they will find a bounteous repast; or if your hands 

 and eyes forget their cunning, and a wounded unfortunate 



