34 THE LITTLE SANDY BUFFALO IN ABUNDANCE. 



three times the animals scented my proximity in season 

 to escape ; but at length, I struck a cow in the shoulder. 

 The wound enraged her and she turned quickly to catch 

 sight of her foe. I had much trouble in dodging around 

 to keep in her rear, and reloading my rifle Being once 

 more prepared, I blazed away, and this time made a better 

 shot, doubtless hitting in the lungs. Still, the animal 

 maintained her feet, and turning suddenly around so as 

 to front me, made a rapid charge, so that it was with ex- 

 treme exertion that I kept clear of her threatening horns. 

 At length she checked herself, feeling her weakness, and 

 I coolly gave her the coup de grace. 



One more buffalo, a black-tailed deer, and an elk, were 

 the reward of this day's hunt. The elk I shot as it was 

 standing under the willows, on the banks of the Little 

 Sandy, whither it had come to drink and to escape from 

 the annoyance of the flies. In point of size, this animal 

 ranks next to the buffalo. It is found in all parts of the 

 mountains, and descends not imfrequently far down into 

 the plains, in the vicinity of the larger streams. A full 

 grown elk is as large as a mule, with rather a heavy neck 

 and body, and stout limbs, its feet leaving a track as 

 large as that of a two-year old steer. They are dull, 

 sluggish animals, at least in comparison with others of 

 the deer tribe, and are easily approached and killed. In 

 winter they congregate in large herds, often numbering 



