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The Extermination of the American Bison by William Temple Hornaday
page 42 of 332 (12%)
actually terrified at the immense numbers that were streaming down the
green hills on one side of the river, and galloping up and over the
bluffs on the other. The river was filled, and in parts blackened with
their heads and horns, as they were swimming about, following up their
objects, and making desperate battle whilst they were swimming. I deemed
it imprudent for our canoe to be dodging amongst them, and ran it ashore
for a few hours, where we laid, waiting for the opportunity of seeing
the river clear, but we waited in vain. Their numbers, however, got
somewhat diminished at last, and we pushed off, and successfully made
our way amongst them. From the immense numbers that had passed the river
at that place, they had torn down the prairie bank of 15 feet in height,
so as to form a sort of road or landing place, where they all in
succession clambered up. Many in their turmoil had been wafted below
this landing, and unable to regain it against the swiftness of the
current, had fastened themselves along in crowds, hugging close to the
high bank under which they were standing. As we were drifting by these,
and supposing ourselves out of danger, I drew up my rifle and shot one
of them in the head, which tumbled into the water, and brought with him
a hundred others, which plunged in, and in a moment were swimming about
our canoe, and placing it in great danger. No attack was made upon us,
and in the confusion the poor beasts knew not, perhaps, the enemy that
was amongst them; but we were liable to be sunk by them, as they were
furiously hooking and climbing on to each other. I rose in my canoe, and
by my gestures and hallooing kept them from coming in contact with us
until we were out of their reach."[25]

[Note 25: Catlin's North American Indians, II, p. 13.]



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