WILDERNESS FOLK 99 



down in the middle of the pool with snouts and eyes 

 just above the surface and waited calmly for the end 

 — whatever that might be — only hoping against hope 

 that they'd be left in peace. 



The smaller four-legged animals are in some ways 

 less distinctive in their human traits than the big 

 ones. Yet they present many exaggerated human 

 characteristics. 



The African wild buffalo, for instance, is exactly 

 like a man who is always being stampeded by the 

 latest rumor. He is continually and unnecessarily 

 on the alert ; not sensibly, like the cat family, but in a 

 silly, apprehensive way that must take much of the 

 joy out of his life. He will graze for a few moments 

 in a natural manner ; then up goes his head as he feels 

 the wind. There may be no enemy within many 

 miles, and his herd may not have been molested by 

 man or by beasts of prey for months. It makes no 

 difference; he is always nervous and ready to enjoy 

 a panic at the slightest provocation. I have seen 

 buffalo at the waterhole in this mood when all the 

 other animals were as quiet and peaceful as a Simday- 

 school picnic. 



One interesting thing about the buffalo is the 

 determined way in which he protects his own clan 

 when an enemy appears. At the first warning he 

 joins his brothers in a curved line, heads to the front. 

 Calves and cows take position behind. In this 



