BUFFALO. 71 



Tbe soil in this valley is highly productive, and sustains a heavy 

 vegetation. The grass is very dense, of a good quality, and from two 

 to three feet high ; and were it not for the large flies that continue to 

 phlebotomize our animals, they would luxuriate here. 



Towards sundown I took my rifle, and, mounting a small Indian 

 pony belonging to my negro servant, started up the creek for the 

 purpose of hunting deer. After I had gone about two miles from camp, 

 I suddenly discovered a buffalo bull very quietly cropping the grass 

 under some oak trees near the creek. No sooner, however, did I see 

 him, than, raising his head and giving one look in the direction I was 

 approaching, he set off at a spanking gallop over the prairie. I applied 

 the rowels most vigorously to the diminutive beast which I bestrode, 

 and endeavored, by making a cut-off over the bills, to get within rifle 

 range ; but after exhausting all the efforts of the pony, I only found 

 myself within about two hundred yards of the buffalo, and gave him a 

 running salute as he passed, but did not observe him falter or make the 

 slightest diminution in his speed ; whereupon I reluctantly abandoned 

 the chase, and returned to camp. 



