THE BUFFALO. 119 



buffaloes. If they see the latter, they make a signal by 

 throwing up handfuls of dust ; if the former, by running their 

 horses to and fro. 



Mr. Paul Kane, the Canadian artist, describes one of these 

 expeditions which he joined. On their way they were 

 visited by twelve Sioux chiefs, who came for the purpose of 

 negotiating a permanent peace ; but whilst smoking the pipe 

 of peace in the council lodge, the dead body of a half-breed, 

 who had gone to a distance from the camp, was brought in 

 newly scalped, and his death was at once attributed to the 

 Sioux. Had not the older and more temperate half-breeds 

 interfered, the young men would have destroyed the twelve 

 chiefs on the spot : as it was, they were allowed to depart un- 

 harmed. Three days afterwards, however, the scouts were 

 observed making the signal of enemies being in sight. Im- 

 mediately a hundred of the best-mounted hastened to the spot, 

 and concealing themselves behind the shelter of the bank of 

 a stream, sent out two of their number as decoys, to expose 

 themselves to the view of the Sioux. The latter, supposing 

 them to be alone, rushed upon them ; whereupon the concealed 

 half-breeds sprang up and poured in a volley which brought 

 down eight. The others escaped, though several must have 

 been wounded. 



Two small herds having been met with, of which several 

 animals were killed, the scouts one morning brought in word 

 tli at an immense herd of bulls was in advance about two 

 miles off They are known in the distance from the cows by 

 their feeding singly, and being scattered over the plain, — 

 whereas the cows keep together, for the purpose of protecting 

 the calves, which are always kept in the centre of the herd. 



We will start at daybreak with our friend, and a half-breed 



