ENORMOUS HERDS OF BUFFALO. 233 
“long at a gallop, the keen sharp air, and the refreshing 
nfluence of a long night’s rest made this drive inexpressibly 
AMelightful. 
. Three days passed quickly away at Denver, after which we 
ain took to the stage, and continued our route southward 
ito the end of the Kansas Pacific Railway, whose terminal 
depot was at that time called Coyote. It was situated 295 
miles from Denver, and ninety-two miles east of Fort Wallace, 
the old starting-point of our survey. 
_ Between Denver and the fort we had no fear of Indians, 
nor need of escort, for the snow was yet on the ground, and 
the time for hostilities had not commenced. Big game, how- 
ever, was most abundant here. One herd of antelope was so 
targe that, although they commenced to bound like lightning 
across the road in single file as soon as they caught sight of 
us, the tail of the herd nearly came in contact with our 
leaders. Like many other wild animals which congregate in 
herds and follow a chief, all considered themselves bound to 
keep exactly in the same track. As for the buffalo, they were 
‘in prodigious numbers. I had heard of wagon-trains being 
Stopped for a whole day to allow them to go by, of thousands 
taking fright and rushing helter-skelter over everything, and 
of places where it was absolutely necessary to provide against 
stampede ; but such a sight I never expected to see, and 
should never have witnessed had I returned, as I had expected, 
by the Platte. 
On one occasion, about 150 miles from Denver, to the left 
of the road, as far as the eye could reach, that is for very 
many miles, the plain was completely covered with them. 
ere were thousands, millions if you like, for such numbers 
ere beyond calculation, and perhaps the best idea I can 
‘of such a sight is to refer to the accompanying sketch, 
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