THE LITTLE SANDY BUFFALO IN ABUNDANCE. 33 



the hunter, he can approach with caution, a buffalo feed 

 ing on a prairie as level as a floor. Its sense of smell, 

 however, is so acute, that when the hunter is to wind- 

 ward, half a mile distant, it will be seen to snuff the air 

 and satisfy itself of danger. 



"We separated and approached a small band of buffaloes, 

 about three-quarters of a mile from camp, and on the same 

 side of the stream. I crept up the bottom as far as I 

 wished to go, while Joe struck out on the prairie, some- 

 times crawling along the ground, and then running 

 swiftly, but lightly, as the heads of the buffaloes were 

 turned from him. I contrived to get within pistol-shot 

 of the small herd, and then almost lying flat on the 

 ground, took a steady aim, banged away, and almost 

 immediately saw a fat cow totter. About the same time, 

 Joe, who had approached near enough to touch the buf- 

 falo with his rifle-barrel, shot her dead. The rest of the 

 herd scampered away without turning to look at us. The 

 animal shot by me soon fell upon its side, and was dead. 

 Then came the work of butchery, and carrying meat and 

 hides to camp where Joe remained to prepare a secure 

 meat-shed, and make preparations for preserving some 

 of the best portions of the buffalo, while I set out for 

 new game. 



This time I went about a mile from camp before I suc- 

 ceeded in getting within rifle-shot of a buffalo. Two or 



