46 STRANGE INFATUATION. 



Permitting the unwitting animals to advance within good shooting dis- 

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

 band then recoiled slightly ; but, snufting the odor of blood, they returned 

 immediately to their prostrate companion. 



This was enough, — a charm now riveted them to the spot, — a strange 

 infatuation had seized upon them. 1'hey began by spurning the ground 

 with their feet, — then, bellowing, 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 death, they licked 

 her bleeding wounds and seemed to exercise a kind of mournful rivalry 

 in the bestowment of their testimonials of aflection. 



She is encircled by her companions. An efl"ort to approach from without 

 is resisted by those within. A fight ensues, and all 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, 

 as if determined to restore her to life and action, or perish by her side. 



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

 it not. Four more of their number lay gasping 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 was no nearer 

 broken. 



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

 goring, bellowing, licking of wounds, and struggles of rival aflTection, 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 ceased its sharp crack, and 

 the gore-scenting wolves, half starved and eager for their supposed prey, 

 came flocking upon every side, mingling their wobegone howlings 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. More afTrighted at the presence 

 of man than the companionship of death, they now gave way, and reluc- 

 tantly left the field to him, who had so unfeelingly occasioned their burthen 

 of mourning and woe ; — still, ever and anon stopping 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-enshrouding darkness soon drove us back to camp, leaving 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 

 of skin marked the scene of their recent revellings ! 



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

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

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

 Their sense of smell, with the wind, in fact, far exceeds their scope of 



