78 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
been there before!” This was a perplexity, as the 
vast extent of mountain range was entirely trackless, 
and apparently devoid of water. Under such 
circumstances, although boiling with indignation, it 
is advisable not to express your sentiments, as such 
a policy will only add to the confusion of the guide. 
I therefore instructed him to cross a small valley, 
and to ascend the opposite hill, from which he would 
obtain a more extended view ; he was to examine 
the whole landscape, and to report should he observe 
any appearance of water. 
I rode with my wife across the same valley, but 
we ascended the range of hills upon our right, 
from which we could embrace an immense extent of 
country, and I immediately perceived a long green 
line, winding through the yellowish grass, between 
low hills, like a velvet ribbon. I knew this would 
represent a stream. Upon our left was a descent of 
600 or 700 feet into a deep dell, at the bottom of 
which a similar green thread betokened water; this 
joined almost at right angles the original green line, 
after which the stream continued along a dark ravine, 
until lost in the thick forest of spruce firs, almost 
beneath the spot upon which we stood. 
At the distance of about iJr mile I could dis¬ 
tinguish four black objects upon the face of a knoll 
to the right of the green ribbon, and upon an 
examination with my binoculars I discovered them 
to be four buffaloes lying down upon the yellow grass, 
about 50 yards to the right of the small stream. I 
immediately arranged that Lady Baker should take 
