THE BUFFALO. 



301 



of the rapid Republican, and had climbed the ridge to the 

 northward, we j)aused upon its crest, and took a long look 

 backward over the valley and the great plain stretching far 

 to the southward, all wavy and shimmering in the rays of the 

 summer sun; and, with a deep sigh of regret for the close 

 of the exciting chase of America's noblest game animal, 

 turned at length toward the oncoming wave of civilization 

 which was destined to ui)root and destroy all of the old- 

 time romance and poetry of the wilderness, entirely satis- 

 fied that we had done our full share in the probably neces- 

 sary work of exterminating the American Bison. 



