254 
THE AMERICAN BISON. 
rutting season, the males fight against each other 
with great fury, and at that period it is very danger- 
ous to approach them. The Bison is, however, in 
general a shy animal, and takes to flight immediate- 
ly on winding an enemy, which the acuteness of its 
sense of smell enables it to do from a great distance. 
They are less wary when they are assembled toge- 
ther in numbers, and will often blindly follow their 
leaders, regardless of or trampling down the hunters 
posted in their way. It is dangerous for the hunter 
to shew himself after having wounded one, for it 
will pursue him, and, although its gait may appear 
heavy and awkward, it will have no great difficulty 
in overtaking the fleetest runner. One of the Hud- 
son Bay Company’s clerks was descending the Sas- 
katchewan in a boat, and having one evening pitched 
his tent for the night, he went out in the dusk to 
look for game. It had become nearly dark when he 
fired at a Bison bull which was galloping over a 
small eminence, and as he was hastening forward to 
see if his shot had taken effect, the wounded beast 
made a rush at him. He had the presence of mind 
to seize the animal by the long hair on its forehead, 
as it struck him on the side with its horns, and be- 
ing a remarkably tall and powerful man, a struggle 
ensued, which continued till his wrist was severely 
sprained, and his arm was rendered powerless. He 
then fell, and, after receiving two or three blows, 
became senseless. Shortly after, he was found by 
his companions lying bathed in blood, being gored 
