BUFFALO. 
45 
and the animal was shot by Mr. Culbertsox, Owex McKenzte, and Mr. 
SauiRE, again. This renewed fire only seemed to enrage him the more, 
and he made a dash at the hunters so sudden and unexpected, that Mr. 
iSaoiRE, attempting to escape, rode between the beast and a ravine which 
was near, when the bull turned upon him, his horse became fiightened 
and leaped down the bank, the Buffalo following him so closely that he 
was nearly unhorsed ; he lost his presence of mind and dropped his gun ; 
he, however, fortunately hung on by the mane and recovered his seat. 
The horse was the fleetest, and saved his life. He told us subsequently 
that he had never been so terrified before. This bull was fired at several 
times after Souire’s adventure, and was found to have twelve balls lodged 
in him when he was killed. He was in very bad condition, and being in 
the rutting season we lound the flesh too rank for our dainty palates and 
only took the tongue with us. 
Soon afterwards we killed a cow in company with many bulls and 
were at first afraid that they would charge upon us, which in similar 
cases they frequently do, but our party was too large and they did not 
venture near, although their angry bellowings and their unwillingness to 
leave the spot showed their rage at parting with her. As the sun was 
now sinking fast towards the horizon on the extended prairie, we soon be- 
gan to make our way toward the camping ground and passed within a 
moderate distance of a large herd of Buffaloes, which we did not stop to 
molest but increasing our speed reached our quarters for the night, just as 
the shadows of the western plain indicated that we should not behold 
the orb of day until the morrow. 
Our camp was near three conical hills called the Mamelles, only about 
thirty miles from Fort Union, although we had travelled nearly fifty by 
the time we reached the spot. After unloading and unsaddling our tired 
beasts, all hands assisted in getting wood and bringing water, and we 
were soon quietly enjoying a cup of coffee. The time of refreshment to 
the weary hunter is always one of interest : the group of stalwart frames 
stretched in various attitudes around or near the blazing watch-fires, re- 
calls to our minds the masterpieces of the great delineators of night scenes ; 
and we have often at such times beheld living pictures, far surpassing 
any of those contained in the galleries of Europe. 
There were signs of grizzly bears around us, and during the night we 
heard a number of wolves howling among the busBes in the vicinity. The 
service berry was abundant and we ate a good many of them, and after a 
hasty preparation in the morning, started again after the Buffaloes we had 
seen the previous evening. Having rode for some time, one of our party who 
was in advance as a scout, made the customary signal from the top of a 
