La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

1680.] BUFFALO. 205the lapse of years :far and near, the prairie was alivewith buffalo ; now like black specks dotting the distantswells ;now trampling by in ponderous columns,or filing in long lines, morning, noon, and night, todrink at the river, — wading, plunging, and snortingin the water;climbing the muddy shores, and staringwith wild eyes at the passing canoes. It was anopportunity not to be lost. The party landed, andencamped for a hunt. Sometimes they hid underthe shelving bank, and shot them as they came todrink; sometimes, flat on their faces, they draggedthemselves through the long dead grass, till thesavage bulls, guardians of the herd, ceased theirgrazing, raisedtheir huge heads, and glared throughtangled hair at the dangerous intruders. The huntwas successful. In three days the hunters killedtwelve buffalo, besides deer, geese, and swans.They cut the meat into thin flakes, and dried it inthe sun or in the smoke of their fires. The menwere in high spirits, — delighting in the sport, andrejoicing in the prospect of relieving Tonty and hishungry followers with a plentiful supply.They embarked again, and soon approached thegreat town of the Illinois. The buffalo were farbehind; and once more the canoes glided on theirway through a voiceless solitude. No hunters wereseen; no saluting whoop greeted their ears. Theypassed the cliff afterwards called the Rock of St.Louis, where La Salle had ordered Tonty to buildhis stronghold; but as he scanned its lofty top he