BUFFALO SINKING IN QUICKSANDS. 47 
When a herd of buffalo are alarmed by the approach of 
the hunter, the cows, in a few seconds, head the retreating 
herd, closely followed by the yearlings and calves, while 
the lumbering old bulls, from incapacity, drop in the rear. 
When not disturbed, in lying down or rising, they exactly 
resemble others of the Bos family; but if they be come 
upon ‘unawares by an object of fear, the velocity with 
which they gain their legs and break into a gallop is truly 
surprising. They are excellent swimmers, and have no hes- 
itation to enter water; nevertheless, annually, great num- 
bers are drowned ; but this generally occurs in spring, when 
the broken ice is clearing out of the streams. 
Throughout the Western country there are numerous 
quicksands, and frequently unfortunates get imbedded in 
them. It appears in such cases that, without exerting 
themselves, they submit to their fate. I have formed this 
conclusion from having, unseen, perceived a bull get into 
such a scrape. I watched him. Inch by inch he kept sink- 
ing; still I felt convinced that a protracted, energetic strug- 
gle would take him across to terra firma, yet no such 
effort did he make. Thoroughly believing that his earthly 
course was run, I advanced to have a closer survey of the 
finale. The unfortunate did not see me till within a few 
yards ;, but when he did, his habitual fear of man predomi- 
nated over all other feelings; again and again he plunged 
forward. Dread of my proximity had given him strength 
and endurance; for, after a few minutes, his feet got on 
soundings, from which the margin was gained, and the 
brute was once more free. I think this apathy to death in 
certain forms is common to the majority of animals. 
The dangers attending the chase of this noble game are 
very much overrated. True, a horse may put his foot in 
the burrow of a wolf, swift fox, or prairie-dog, and send his 
rider sky-rocketing. The result may be a broken neck, or, 
