range affords them an opportunity, from their superior
fleetness, of escaping from every enemy. But in these parts they are
more than usually shy; and although several of them were seen on the
way, our hunters vainly endeavoured to approach within shooting distance
of them. Wolves they could have shot; but they were not as yet prepared
to satisfy their hunger upon the flesh of these filthy, fox-like,
creatures. That large troops of wolves had gone forward, hanging after
the great herd, was evident. Every now and then our hunters saw proof
of this, in the clean-picked skeletons of buffaloes that lay along the
path. These they knew were such as had got disabled and separated from
the drove; for numerous accidents of this kind--owing to the bulls
goring one another, or being enfeebled by age and disease--take place
during the migration of the vast herds. Were it not so, the wolves
would never think of following them as they do; for a buffalo in good
health can scatter a whole pack of these cowardly, skulking jackals.
But the average accidents which occur when such numbers of buffaloes are
together--the prospect of old ones, weak and weary, being separated from
their companions--of numbers getting mired upon the banks of some muddy
river, or drowned in crossing it--of cows heavy with calf falling
behind, or with calves already on the hoof, loitering for the purpose of
suckling them--the prospect of these chances, combined with the still
more enticing hope that the buffaloes will be attacked by a party of
Indian hunters, often carries a pack of wolves for hundreds of miles
across the prairie on the heels of a great herd. In fact, some of these
wolves, both of the white and prairie species, seem to have no fixed
place of abode; but hang upon the skirts of the buffalo "gangs"
throughout all their extended migrations.

I have said that, upon the second night after leaving the butte, our
travellers went to sleep supperless. On the third day, they began to
feel the cravings of hunger in good earnest. Neither beast nor bird
appeared in sight upon the wild desert plains that stretched inimitably
around them. About noon, as they were riding through a thicket of the
wild sage (_Artemisia tridentata_), a brace of those singular birds,
sage-cocks or prairie-grouse (_Tetrao urophasianus_), the largest of all
the grouse family, whirred up before the heads of their horses.
Francois, with his ever-ready gun, fired at them, but th