Moreover； the bison's dull eyesight is no special harm in the woods；
while it is peculiarly hurtful to the safety of any beast on the
plains； where eyesight avails more than any other sense； the true game
of the plains being the prong…buck； the most keen…sighted of American
animals。 On the other hand the bison's hearing； of little avail on the
plains； is of much assistance in the woods； and its excellent nose
helps equally in both places。
Though it was always more difficult to kill the bison of the forests
and the mountains than the bison of the prairie； yet now that the
species is； in its wild state； hovering on the brink of extinction；
the difficulty is immeasurably increased。 A merciless and terrible
process of natural selection； in which the agents were rifle…bearing
hunters； has left as the last survivors in a hopeless struggle for
existence only the wariest of the bison and those gifted with the
sharpest senses。 That this was true of the last lingering individuals
that survived the great slaughter on the plains is well shown by Mr。
Hornaday in his graphic account of his campaign against the few
scattered buffalo which still lived in 1886 between the Missouri and
the Yellowstone； along the Big Dry。 The bison of the plains and the
prairies have now vanished； and so few of their brethren of the
mountains and the northern forests are left； that they can just barely
be reckoned among American game； but whoever is so fortunate as to
find any of these animals must work his hardest； and show all his
skill as a hunter if he wishes to get one。
In the fall of 1889 I heard that a very few bison were still left
around the head of Wisdom river。 Thither I went and hunted faithfully；
there was plenty of game of other kind； but of bison not a trace did
we see。 Nevertheless a few days later that same year I came across
these great wild cattle at a time when I had no idea of seeing them。
It was； as nearly as we could tell； in Idaho； just south of the
Montana boundary line； and some twenty…five miles west of the line of
Wyoming。 We were camped high among the mountains； with a small pack…
train。 On the day in question we had gone out to find moose； but had
seen no sign of them； and had then begun to climb over the higher
peaks with an idea of getting sheep。 The old hunter who was with me
was； very fortunately； suffering from rheumatism； and he therefore
carried a long staff instead of his rifle； I say fortunately； for if
he had carried his rifle it would have been impossible to stop his
firing at such game as bison； nor would he have spared the cows and
calves。
About the middle of the afternoon we crossed a low； rocky ridge； above
timber line； and saw at our feet a basin or round valley of singular
beauty。 Its walls were formed by steep mountains。 At its upper end lay
a small lake； bordered on one side by a meadow of emerald green。 The
lake's other side marked the edge of the frowning pine forest which
filled the rest of the valley； and hung high on the sides of the gorge
which formed its outlet。 Beyond the lake the ground rose in a pass
evidently much frequented by game in bygone days； their trails lying
along it in thick zigzags； each gradually fading out after a few
hundred yards； and then starting again in a little different place； as
game trails so often seem to do。
We bent our steps toward these trails； and no sooner had we reached
the first than the old hunter bent over it with a sharp exclamation of
wonder。 There in the dust were the unmistakable hoof…marks of a small
band of bison； apparently but a few hours old。 They were headed
towards the lake。 There had been a half a dozen animals in the party；
one a big bull； and two calves。
We immediately turned and followed the trail。 It led down to the
little lake； where the beasts had spread and grazed on the tender；
green blades； and had drunk their fill。 The footprints then came
together again； showing where the animals had gathered and walked off
in single file to the forest。 Evidently they had come to the pool in
the early morning； walking over the game pass from some neighboring
valley； and after drinking and feeding had moved into the pine forest
to find some spot for their noontide rest。
It was a very still day； and there were nearly three hours of daylight
left。 Without a word my silent companion； who had been scanning the
whole country with hawk…eyed eagerness； besides scrutinizing the sign
on his hands and knees； took the trail； motioning me to follow。 In a
moment we entered the woods； breathing a sigh of relief as we did so；
for while in the meadow we could never tell that the buffalo might not
see us； if they happened to be lying in some place with a commanding
lookout。
The old hunter was thoroughly roused； and he showed himself a very
skilful tracker。 We were much favored by the character of the forest；
which was rather open； and in most places free from undergrowth and
down timber。 As in most Rocky Mountain forests the timber was small；
not only as compared to the giant trees of the groves of the Pacific
coast； but as compared to the forests of the northeast。 The ground was
covered with pine needles and soft moss； so that it was not difficult
to walk noiselessly。 Once or twice when I trod on a small dry twig； or
let the nails in my shoes clink slightly against a stone； the hunter
turned to me with a frown of angry impatience； but as he walked
slowly； continually halting to look ahead； as well as stooping over to
examine the trail； I did not find it very difficult to move silently。
I kept a little behind him； and to one side； save when he crouched to
take advantage of some piece of cover； and I crept in his footsteps。 I
did not look at the trail at all； but kept watching ahead； hoping at
any moment to see the game。
It was not very long before we struck their day beds； which were made
on a knoll； where the forest was open and where there was much down
timber。 After leaving the day beds the animals had at first fed
separately around the grassy base and sides of the knoll； and had then
made off in their usual single file； going straight to a small pool in
the forest。 After drinking they had left this pool； and travelled down
towards the gorge at the mouth of the basin； the trail leading along
the sides of the steep hill； which were dotted by open glades； while
the roar of the cataracts by which the stream was broken； ascended
from below。 Here we moved with redoubled caution； for the sign had
grown very fresh and the animals had once more scattered and begun
feeding。 When the trail led across the glades we usually skirted them
so as to keep in the timber。
At last； on nearing the edge of one of these glades we saw a movement
among the young trees on the other side； not fifty yards away。 Peering
through the safe shelter yielded by some thick evergreen bushes； we
speedily made out three bison； a cow； a calf； and a yearling； grazing
greedily on the other side of the glade； under the fringing timber；
all with their heads up hill。 Soon another cow and calf stepped out
after them。 I did not wish to shoot； waiting for the appearance of the
big bull which I knew was accompanying them。
So for several minutes I watched the great； clumsy； shaggy beasts； as
all unconscious they grazed in the open glade。 Behind them rose the
dark pines。 At the left of the glade the ground fell away to form the
side of a chasm； down in its depths the cataracts foamed and
thundered； beyond； the huge mountains towered； their crests crimsoned
by the sinking sun。 Mixed with the eager excitement of the hunter was
a certain half melancholy feeling as I gazed on these bison；
themselves part of the last remnant of a doomed and nearly vanished
race。 Few； indeed； are the men who now have； or evermore shall have；
the chance of seeing the mightiest of American beasts； in all his wild
vigor； surrounded by the tremendous desolation of his far…off mountain
home。
At last； when I had begun to grow very anxious lest the others should
take alarm； the bull likewise appeared on the edge of the glade； and
stood with outstretched head； scratching his throat against a young
tree； which shook violently。 I aimed low； behind his shoulder； and
pulled trigger。 At the crack of the rifle all the bison； without the
momentary halt of terror…struck surprise so common among game； turned
and raced off at headlong speed。 The fringe of young pines beyond and
below the glade cracked and swayed as if a whirlwind were passing； and
in another moment they reached the top of a very steep incline；
thickly strewn with boulders and dead timber。 Down this they plunged
with reckless speed； their surefootedness was a marvel in such
seemingly unwieldy beasts。 A column of dust obscured their passage；
and under its cover they disappeared in the forest； but the trail of
the bull was marked by splashes of frothy blood； and we followed it at
a trot。 Fifty yards beyond the border of the forest we found the stark
black body stretched motionless。 He was a splendid old bull； still in
his full vigor； with large； sharp horns； and heavy mane and glossy
coat； and I felt the most exulting pride as I handled and examined
him； for I had procured a trophy such as can fall henceforth to few
hunters indeed。
It was too late to dress the beast that evening； so； after taking out
the tongue and cutting off enough meat for supper and breakfast； we
scrambled down to near the torrent； and after some search found a good
spot for camping。 Hot and dusty from the day's hard tramp； I undressed
and took a plunge in the stream； the icy water making me gasp。 Then；
having built a slight lean…to of brush； and dragged together enough
dead timber to burn all night； we cut long alder twigs； sat down
before some embers raked apart； and grilled and ate our buffalo meat
with the utmost relish。 Night had fallen； a cold wind blew up the
valley； the torrent roared as it leaped past us； and drowned our words
as we strove to talk over our adventures and success； while the flame
of the fire flickered and danced； lighting up with continual vivid
flashes the gloom of the forest round about。
CHAPTER II。