136 BIRDS AND POETS 



of little consequence. But when spring came, and 

 it was time for her to go forth and seek her liveli- 

 hood in the city's waste places, I was embarrassed. 

 Into what remote corners or into what terra incog- 

 nita might she not wander ! There was little doubt 

 but she would drift around home in the course of the 

 summer, or perhaps as often as every week or two; 

 but could she be trusted to find her way back every 

 night ? Perhaps she could be taught. Perhaps her 

 other senses were acute enough to in a measure 

 compensate her for her defective vision. So I gave 

 her lessons in the topography of the country. I 

 led her forth to graze for a few hours each day 

 and led her home again. Then I left her to come 

 home alone, which feat she accomplished very en- 

 couragingly. She came feeling her way along, step- 

 ping very high, but apparently a most diligent and 

 interested sight-seer. But she was not sure of the 

 right hotise when she got to it, though she stared 

 at it very hard. 



Again I turned her forth, and again she came 

 back, her telescopic eyes apparently of some service 

 to her. On the third day, there was a fierce thun- 

 der-storm late in the afternoon, and old buffalo did 

 not come home. It had evidently scattered and 

 bewildered what little wit she had. Being barely 

 able to navigate those streets on a calm day, what 

 could she be expected to do in a tempest ? 



After the storm had passed, and near sundown, 

 I set out in quest of her, but could get no clew. I 

 heard that two cows had been struck by lightning 



