distant。 Down they came！thousands upon thousands； their front
extending a mile in breadth； while the earth shook beneath their
thunderous gallop； and； as they came closer； their shaggy frontlets
loomed dimly through the columns of dust thrown up from the dry soil。
The two hunters knew that their only hope for life was to split the
herd； which； though it had so broad a front； was not very deep。 If
they failed they would inevitably be trampled to death。
Waiting until the beasts were in close range； they opened a rapid fire
from their heavy breech…loading rifles； yelling at the top of their
voices。 For a moment the result seemed doubtful。 The line thundered
steadily down on them； then it swayed violently； as two or three of
the brutes immediately in front fell beneath the bullets； while their
neighbors made violent efforts to press off sideways。 Then a narrow
wedge…shaped rift appeared in the line； and widened as it came closer；
and the buffaloes； shrinking from their foes in front； strove
desperately to edge away from the dangerous neighborhood； the shouts
and shots were redoubled； the hunters were almost choked by the cloud
of dust； through which they could see the stream of dark huge bodies
passing within rifle…length on either side； and in a moment the peril
was over； and the two men were left alone on the plain； unharmed；
though with their nerves terribly shaken。 The herd careered on toward
the horizon； save five individuals which had been killed or disabled
by the shots。
On another occasion； when my brother was out with one of his friends；
they fired at a small herd containing an old bull； the bull charged
the smoke； and the whole herd followed him。 Probably they were simply
stampeded； and had no hostile intention； at any rate； after the death
of their leader； they rushed by without doing any damage。
But buffaloes sometimes charged with the utmost determination； and
were then dangerous antagonists。 My cousin； a very hardy and resolute
hunter； had a narrow escape from a wounded cow which he had followed
up a steep bluff or sand cliff。 Just as he reached the summit； he was
charged； and was only saved by the sudden appearance of his dog； which
distracted the cow's attention。 He thus escaped with only a tumble and
a few bruises。
My brother also came in for a charge； while killing the biggest bull
that was slain by any of the party。 He was out alone； and saw a small
herd of cows and calves at some distance； with a huge bull among them；
towering above them like a giant。 There was no break in the ground；
nor any tree nor bush near them； but； by making a half…circle； my
brother managed to creep up against the wind behind a slight roll in
the prairie surface； until he was within seventy…five yards of the
grazing and unconscious beasts。 There were some cows and calves
between him and the bull； and he had to wait some moments before they
shifted position； as the herd grazed onward and gave him a fair shot；
in the interval they had moved so far forward that he was in plain
view。 His first bullet struck just behind the shoulders； the herd
started and looked around； but the bull merely lifted his head and
took a step forward； his tail curled up over his back。 The next bullet
likewise struck fair； nearly in the same place； telling with a loud
〃pack！〃 against the thick hide； and making the dust fly up from the
matted hair。 Instantly the great bull wheeled and charged in headlong
anger； while the herd fled in the opposite direction。 On the bare
prairie； with no spot of refuge； it was useless to try to escape； and
the hunter； with reloaded rifle； waited until the bull was not far
off； then drew up his weapon and fired。 Either he was nervous； or the
bull at the moment bounded over some obstacle； for the bullet went a
little wild； nevertheless； by good luck； it broke a fore…leg； and the
great beast came crashing to the earth； and was slain before it could
struggle to its feet。
Two days after this even； a war party of Comanches swept down along
the river。 They 〃jumped〃 a neighboring camp； killing one man and
wounding two more； and at the same time ran off all but three of the
horses belonging to our eight adventurers。 With the remaining three
horses and one wagon they set out homeward。 The march was hard and
tedious； they lost their way and were in jeopardy from quicksands and
cloudbursts； they suffered from thirst and cold； their shoes gave out；
and their feet were lamed by cactus spines。 At last they reached Fort
Griffen in safety； and great was their ravenous rejoicing when they
procured some breadfor during the final fortnight of the hunt they
had been without flour or vegetables of any kind； or even coffee； and
had subsisted on fresh meat 〃straight。〃 Nevertheless； it was a very
healthy； as well as a very pleasant and exciting experience； and I
doubt if any of those who took part in it will ever forget their great
buffalo…hunt on the Brazos。
My friend； Gen。 W。 H。 Walker； of Virginia； had an experience in the
early '50's with buffaloes on the upper Arkansas River； which gives
some idea of their enormous numbers at that time。 He was camped with a
scouting party on the banks of the river； and had gone out to try to
shoot some meat。 There were many buffaloes in sight； scattered；
according to their custom； in large bands。 When he was a mile or two
away from the river a dull roaring sound in the distance attracted his
attention； and he saw that a herd of buffalo far to the south； away
from the river； had been stampeded and was running his way。 He knew
that if he was caught in the open by the stampeded herd his chance for
life would be small； and at once ran for the river。 By desperate
efforts he reached the breaks in the sheer banks just as the buffaloes
reached them； and got into a position of safety on the pinnacle of a
little bluff。 From this point of vantage he could see the entire
plain。 To the very verge of the horizon the brown masses of the
buffalo bands showed through the dust clouds； coming on with a
thunderous roar like that of surf。 Camp was a mile away； and the
stampede luckily passed to one side of it。 Watching his chance he
finally dodged back to the tent； and all that afternoon watched the
immense masses of buffalo； as band after band tore to the brink of the
bluffs on one side； raced down them； rushed through the water； up the
bluffs on the other side； and again off over the plain； churning the
sandy； shallow stream into a ceaseless tumult。 When darkness fell
there was no apparent decrease in the numbers that were passing； and
all through that night the continuous roar showed that the herds were
still threshing across the river。 Towards dawn the sound at last
ceased； and General Walker arose somewhat irritated； as he had
reckoned on killing an ample supply of meat； and he supposed that
there would be now no bison left south of the river。 To his
astonishment； when he strolled up on the bluffs and looked over the
plain； it was still covered far and wide with groups of buffalo；
grazing quietly。 Apparently there were as many on that side as ever；
in spite of the many scores of thousands that must have crossed over
the river during the stampede of the afternoon and night。 The barren…
ground caribou is the only American animal which is now ever seen in
such enormous herds。
In 1862 Mr。 Clarence King； while riding along the overland trail
through western Kansas； passed through a great buffalo herd； and was
himself injured in an encounter with a bull。 The great herd was then
passing north； and Mr。 King reckoned that it must have covered an area
nearly seventy miles by thirty in extent； the figures representing his
rough guess； made after travelling through the herd crosswise； and
upon knowing how long it took to pass a given point going northward。
This great herd of course was not a solid mass of buffaloes； it
consisted of innumerable bands of every size； dotting the prairie
within the limits given。 Mr。 King was mounted on a somewhat
unmanageable horse。 On one occasion in following a band he wounded a
large bull； and became so wedged in by the maddened animals that he
was unable to avoid the charge of the bull； which was at its last
gasp。 Coming straight toward him it leaped into the air and struck the
afterpart of the saddle full with its massive forehead。 The horse was
hurled to the ground with a broken back； and King's leg was likewise
broken； while the bull turned a complete somerset over them and never
rose again。
In the recesses of the Rocky Mountains； from Colorado northward
through Alberta； and in the depths of the subarctic forest beyond the
Saskatchewan； there have always been found small numbers of the bison；
locally called the mountain buffalo and wood buffalo； often indeed the
old hunters term these animals 〃bison；〃 although they never speak of
the plains animals save as buffalo。 They form a slight variety of what
was formerly the ordinary plains bison； intergrading with it； on the
whole they are darker in color； with longer； thicker hair； and in
consequence with the appearance of being heavier…bodied and shorter…
legged。 They have been sometimes spoken of as forming a separate
species； but； judging from my own limited experience； and from a
comparison of the many hides I have seen； I think they are really the
same animal； many individuals of the two so…called varieties being
quite indistinguishable。 In fact； the only moderate…sized herd of wild
bison in existence to…day； the protected herd in the Yellowstone Park；
is composed of animals intermediate in habits and coat between the
mountain and plains varietiesas were all the herds of the Bighorn；
Big Hole； Upper Madison； and Upper Yellowstone valleys。
However； the habitat of these wood and mountain bison yielded them
shelter from hunters in a way that the plains never could； and hence
they have always been harder to kill in the one place than in the
other； for precisely the same reasons that have held good with the
elk； which have been completely exterminated from the plains； while
still abundant in many of the forest fastnesses of the Rockies。
Moreover； the bison's dull eyesight is no special harm in the woods；
while it i