THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. II9 



we found where two or three rails had been displaced 

 and whence the sortie had been made. The fence was 

 repaired and strengthened, and for a time all went smoothly 

 until, on a certain morning, on going to "yoke up" we 

 found that Dick was crippled and incapacitated for work by an injury 

 to his hind quarters ; there was much swelling and lameness, and 

 the cause — a mystery ! We caused the invalid to be examined by 

 one in the locality who had a reputation for veterinary knowledge, 

 but all he could say was, that the swelling at the base of the abdo- 

 men was the result of violence, perhaps of jumping, and that the 

 animal had alighted astride of the fence or a stump, (these were 

 numerous). However, the inconvenience soon passed off with rest, 

 etc., and we had ceased to think of the matter, but we soon noticed 

 in the evenings, after our day's logging was done, and unyoking in 

 the pasture had taken place, the buffaloes did not begin to graze or 

 ruminate, but seemed agitated and restless, and the question arose, 

 what could be in the wind now? " Diamond " would look vacantly 

 skyward and give a longing low or two, and then lick his shoulders, 

 where the yoke might perhaps have rubbed and chafed him ; " Dick " 

 looked puzzled and expectant, standing still at a little distance, and 

 closely watching his ill-natured mate ! We thought the farce worth 

 watching, and stayed quietly in a secluded spot for an hour or more 

 to find out what the denouement might be. After some time 

 " Diamond," with treachery in his mien, advanced a few steps to- 

 wards his somewhat timorous but colossal-sized mate, but the latter 

 moved on, still deliberately followed by " Diamond." With both the 

 pace became an accele ated one all around the small field, pursuer 

 and pursued ; after a number of perambulations " Diamond " having 

 gotten his terrified " pard" just where he wanted him, i. e., in a cor- 

 ner, made a roar of triumph, and with a mighty lunge, sprang on to 

 poor trembling " Dick," goring the latter unmercifully, whose only 

 chance of escape from the dilemma was to charge the high fence 

 like a battering ram, which of course gave way before this irresista- 

 ble onset, and the pair were once more in the clover blossoms, 

 " Diamond " no doubt chuckling at this repeated successful result of 

 his "ruse de guerre. '''' 



So here was the wished for explanation of the mysterious swell- 

 ings and lameness that had lost me several days' use of my team in 

 seeding time, and caused me a journey in quest of the cow-leech. 



