heavy rains, as the soil, previously
loosened by the hoofs of the buffaloes, was then carried off to the
rivers. Such roads the buffaloes follow at times, thousands of them
keeping in the same trail. They travel thus when they are migrating in
search of better pastures, or water--to which they know by experience
the roads will conduct them.

Our hunters did not follow this road far, as there was no certainty that
it would bring them to where the animals then were. They crossed over,
and kept on for the butte.

"_Voila_!" cried Francois, "what are these?" Francois pointed to
several circular hollows that appeared in the prairie before them.

"Buffalo-wallows, I declare!" said Basil: "some of them are quite fresh
too!"

"Buffalo-wallows!" echoed Francois; "what are they?"

"Why, have you never heard of them, Frank?" asked Basil. "Places where
the buffalo wallow and tumble like horses and farm-cattle."

"Oh, that's it," said Francois; "but what do they do it for?"

"Well, that I don't know. Perhaps Luce can tell."

"Some say," said Lucien, thus appealed to, "they do it to scratch
themselves, and get rid of the flies and other insects that annoy them.
Others believe that they practise this curious exercise only by way of
diversion."

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Francois, "what funny fellows they must be!"

"There is yet another more curious explanation," continued Lucien,
"which is this:--that the buffaloes make these hollows to catch water
when it rains, so that they may come back to them and drink!"

"Ha! ha! ha!" again laughed Francois; "I can't believe that, brother."

"I would not have you neither," said Lucien; "of course, the supposition
is not true--as the buffalo is not an animal possessing sufficient
intelligence for that. It is only offered as a curious suggestion. It
is certain, however, that the water collects in these holes during
rain-time, and often remains there for days; and the buffaloes,
wandering about, drink out of them. Therefore, it may, in one sense, be
truly said that the buffaloes _dig their own wells_! These often prove
of service to other animals, as well as those who have made them. Lost
trappers and Indians have been saved by finding water in them, when
otherwise they would have perished from thirst."

"How very round they are!" said Francois; "why, they are perfect
circles! How do the buffaloes make them so?"

"By laying themselves out at full length and spinning round a