HUNTING THE BUFFALO. 



293 



acquired, safe and sound, in body and mind. What hunter 

 of the mountains could boast of such a life ? 



I journeyed leisurely over the prairies. It was late in 

 the autumn. The few trees along the small streams 

 were decked with a foliage of purple and gold. For 

 several days I saw no game of any size ; but as I had pro- 

 vision's in my pack sufficient to keep me during my jour- 

 ney as far as the settlements of New Mexico, I had no 

 feelings more serious than the anxiety of a mere sports- 

 man. When within a few days' ride of the first settlement 

 of New Mexico, as I calculated, a few buffalo appeared. 



It was early in the morning when I first saw them, like 

 black spots, far away upon the plain. My l^eart beat 

 quick and fast, and, with an enthusiasm which sprang from 

 my old remembrances of sport, I rode towards them, got 

 to the windward, and with a quick shot, tumbled a large 

 cow into a lifeless heap. The other buffaloes scampered 

 away before I got an opportunity to let them taste my 

 lead. That evening I enjoyed, for the first time since my 

 return, a delicious meal of tongue. Yet when I remem- 

 bered the eland and the gemsbok of Africa, the luxury 

 was somewhat diminished such is the vanity of the 

 traveller. Another buffalo was killed before I reached 

 New Mexico. The game was apparently very scarce in 

 this region. 



The journey through New Mexico was rapidly performed 

 25* 



