XV 
AMERICAN BUFFALO 
81 
through the shoulder-bone. The bull fell over upon 
its right side, and never moved. 
I trust that I may not be considered hard-hearted 
in recounting such shots in detail, and their results ; 
I do so in the scientific interests of rifle practice, to 
produce examples of the actual practical effects of 
certain weapons, used against particular animals. 
Had I been as I was in my younger days, without a 
life’s experience, I could have shot thirty or forty of 
these splendid animals with ease; but from the 
moment of this first example I determined to kill no 
more, but only to admire. In accordance with this 
determination, I took great pains upon many occasions 
to obtain a shot, and after long stalks, having obtained 
a magnificent position, I raised my rifle, took a most 
deadly aim, and touched the trigger, having carefully 
kept the rifle upon half - cock. Away went the 
buffalo, to live for another day, instead of being 
slaughtered uselessly, to rot upon the plains, or to 
be devoured by wolves, or buried in the soil by 
bears. This sort of stalking afforded me much 
pleasure, but it did not suit my American attendant. 
“ Well, if you came all the way from the Old Country 
to shoot, and you won’t shoot when you’ve got the 
chance, you’d have done better to stop at home.” 
This was the consolation I received for my self-denial 
when sparing buffaloes. 
I did not mind these remarks ; I had my own 
reward. The buffaloes on many occasions fed around 
our camp within 300 or 400 yards. We could watch 
them with the binoculars, and we enjoyed the study 
VOL, II 
G 
