72 STRANGE INFATUATiOiN. 



Permitting the unwitting aiiimals to advance within good shooting dis- 

 tance, a discharge from his rifle brought down one of their number. The 

 band then recoiled slightly ; but, siiulSng the odor of blood, tliey returned 

 immediately to their prostrate companion. 



Tliis was enough, — a charm now riveteil them to tlie spot, — a strange 

 Infatuation had seized upon them. I'hey bogan by spuming the ground 

 v/ith tlieir feet, — then, bellow ing, gored the fallen beast, as if forcing her to 

 rise, — then, rolling upon the grass, in demonstrative sympathy, — and, now 

 that she had ceased to struggle and lay yet quivering in aeath, they licke 

 her bleeding wounds and seemed to exercise a kind of mournful rivali-j 

 in the bestowment of their testimonials of aiTection. 



She is encircled by her companions. An eflbrt to approach from without 



is resisted by those within. A light ensues, and ail becomes confusion. 



•Each turns against her neighbor, and continues the strife till the space 



around the carcase is again vacated ; whereupon a general rush once more 



centers to the spot, and all unite to react the former scene. 



In this manner they persisted in their frenzied devotion to the fallen one, 

 a? if determined to restore her to hfe and action, or perisli by her side. 



Meanwhile the hunter's rifle liad been busily employed. But they heeded 

 !i not. Four more of their number lay ga.<=ping in death upon the en^ 

 sanguined ground ; and still they seemed no more disposed to leave 

 the scene of slaughter than at first. Sixteen successive shots were fired, 

 each bearing blood, wounds and death, and yet the spell v>-as no nearer 

 broken. 



It was a spectacle vested with melancholy animation. , The pawing 

 goring, bellowing, licking of wounds, and struggles of rival afiection, re 

 mained the same, with no visible .abatement of their vehemency. 



The sun had set, and the sable hue of twilight empalled the blood-dank 

 .slaughter-ground. The death-dealing rifle had ce;ised its sharp crack, and 

 tiie gore-scenting wolves, half staiTed and eager for their supposed prey, 

 came flocking upon every side, mingling their wobegone bowlings with 

 the piteous moans of the spell-bound herd, and the loud whistlings of the 

 prairie winds, — and yet, they lingered. 



At last the impatient hunter advanced. iVIore affrighted at the presence 

 of man than the companionship of death, they no\y ga\e way, and reluc- 

 tantly left the field to him, who had ?o unfeelingly occasioned their burtlien 

 of mourning and woe ; — still, ever and anon stopi)ing to gaze, as if longing 

 to return and die with those they loved ! 



All hands were now summoned to aid at the work of butchery ; but the 

 fast-enshrtjuding darkness soon drove us back to camp, leavmg the task 

 not half completed. 



Our withdrawal from the premises was the signal for possession by the 

 eager wolves, whose ceaseless yelpings the livelong night, made the gloomy 

 interval doubly dismal. By morning, nothing but bones and thick pieces 

 o skin marked the scene ot their recent reveUingsl 



Thus early, I had learned, that to approach buffalo wnJi success, the hunter 

 should carefully maintain the leeward, such being their remarkable sensi- 

 tiveness, they will sooner flee from the smell tlian the sight of a man 

 Phftir Bense of smell with the wind, in fact, far exceeds tlieir acopp ""* 



