A coyote, stealing in and out along its trail, suddenly squatted12 upon its lean haunches, resting upon the raised dirt of a dog village. From this site it peered curiously13 off into the distance, for its bleary, green eyes saw something moving against the sky-line. What the coyote saw was this: a great, black, hulking, moving object was stumbling its way westward14, following the last golden glow of the sunset, and, as the creature watched, it made out another, smaller figure, following close beside the large one. Then, after satisfying its curiosity the coyote raised its lean snout, and howled dismally15 from sheer disappointment, for that which he hoped might be game had turned out to be nothing but just an old, sick or wounded buffalo16, followed by her little calf17. The sight so disgusted the half-starved coyote, that it started in an opposite direction on a slinking run, for with all its meanness it will not pursue another which is wounded.
The huge mother buffalo stumbled bravely on and on; she was very weak, for she still carried an Indian's arrow in her side. How she had managed to escape at all with her calf was a wonder. The herd18 had stampeded, and somehow, after they had gone, she found herself wounded, alone with her calf. Lowing to the little fellow, she encouraged it to follow her and all day they had journeyed over the long, hot trail. If she could only manage to find water, then she could wallow, and perhaps her stinging wound would heal. Occasionally she stumbled, almost breaking her leg as she plunged19 into the hole of some dog village which her glazing20 old eyes had not seen.
Suddenly she raised her great shaggy head, and roared out a low cry of triumph; she had scented21 water. She urged on the weary, tottering22 steps of her calf, pushing him on ahead with her nose, lowing gently and affectionately, encouraging it to hold out a little longer, for soon they would come to the beautiful, longed-for water hole.
They entered a small canyon23 between two notches24, and right down in a hollow, a short distance off, the little new moon flashed a gleam across the water. As soon as they had quenched25 their dreadful thirst, the mother dropped down heavily among the undergrowth, and the little calf, already refreshed, stepped in and out of the thickets, cropping contentedly26 among the tender cactus27 sprouts28 and arrow weed. Mogul, the calf, perhaps wondered, the next morning as the sun beat its hot way into the canyon, why his mother did not rise as usual from her all-night resting place, and low for him to follow her. After a time he understood, for such is the keen instinct of the wild; she would never rise again. Thus did Mogul, the calf buffalo, begin his lonely life. His brave mother had just managed to lead him into the safe canyon for water, and then had died.
Mogul was an unusually fine, large calf, for his age. He was full of courage and daring, but he stayed safe in the canyon, where the forage29 was plentiful30 and water never failed him, for a long while, every day growing bigger and stronger. When spring came and the passes began to grow bright with gay-coloured flowers, the water holes bubbled, and prairie chickens called their "Coos, coos, coos" from the thickets; then Mogul began to look about and long for companionship, for he was lonely. He noticed the happy frolics of the jack-rabbits with approving, gentle eyes. Contentedly chewing the cud, he would watch the prairie dogs romping31 happily in and out of the doors of their villages. A bark from the watching sentinel would sound an alarm note, and, like a flash, they would vanish into a hundred holes. With the sprouting32 of his small, sharp black horns came a sudden restlessness to Mogul. He remembered the herd, so he determined33 to leave the canyon and find them.
He had never encountered any real danger in his life as yet, never heard the swish of an Indian's arrow, or sighted a painted, brown body topped off with painted feathers, astride a loping pony34. Once on the open plains he would soon find out about all these things for himself. Through the mouth of the sheltering canyon travelled Mogul, so full of courage and life that he gambolled35 and leaped playfully by the way; he would shake his huge, top-heavy head, and rip up great tufts of sage-brush with his sharp horns. Occasionally he halted, bellowing37 fiercely and stamping. A yellow, diamond-back rattlesnake presumed to coil and rattle39 at him impudently40, right in his path. Knowing no fear, Mogul charged at it, sending it spinning high in the air, then stamping it out beneath his shining hoofs41.
The sun baked down mercilessly upon his heavy coat out on the open plain, where there was no shelter. Almost he wished himself back in the canyon. Gnats42 bit right through his tough hide; he swung his great head incessantly43 and angrily, lashing44 them with his tail; still they clung, biting and stinging his flesh until blood flowed. The plains stretched on ahead with no companionship in sight. Poor, lonely Mogul! For days he had not tasted water. If he could but find a water hole, he would wallow and rid himself of the stinging pests. That night he reached a small, brackish45 pool of water and, dropping into a moist place, Mogul rolled about until he had made a fine hole about as long and wide as himself. Into this the water gradually oozed46 and, with a snort of joy, Mogul rolled his tormented47 body about, coating himself well with the wet clay which cured the biting stings. Early next morning a stray buffalo cow came to the pool; she was young and very pleasing, and Mogul's joy seemed complete, for he had found company. That night the pair caught up with the great herd and joined it. Black King, leader of the great herd, had never been crossed, but as soon as Mogul appeared he disapproved48 of him, because of his jealous disposition49, for the old leader noticed that Mogul was fully36 as large as himself, and even more powerful—a born leader. The Black King was growing old; he feared this stranger might become a favourite with the herd, which might desert him, as they frequently did, for a younger leader. Whenever Mogul met Black King, the latter would charge savagely50, bellowing mightily52 and throwing up great showers of earth with his hoofs and horns, to frighten Mogul. Then the eyes of Mogul would suddenly grow red with inner fires, and he would charge wildly at Black King. One day, somewhat to his surprise, the old leader actually backed off and away from Mogul, bellowing and calling his followers53 after him. Thus Mogul won a position of respect from the herd, a greater part of which took to following his leadership, others remaining loyal to Black King.
Grazing near the edge of a rocky canyon with a favourite cow and her calf one day, Mogul almost met his match in "Ezekiel," as the plainsmen had named the great grizzly54 bear—the terror of the Rockies. Ezekiel, full grown, and with four young cubs55 back in a den11 of the mountains with their mother, was seeking food. The young cubs needed fresh meat. Afar off, peering over the edges of the canyon, Ezekiel had sighted the three grazing figures of the buffaloes56. Buffalo calf meat he intended to carry back to the waiting cubs. In and out crept the shambling figure of the great bear, taking care to keep low down among the underbrush, making for the site nearest the little calf, which was feeding somewhat apart from its mother's side.
With a snort, Mogul raised his heavy head; instantly he sighted the great hulking thing which was making its way towards the calf. With a wild bellow38 of rage, he charged straight for the waving underbrush, and as he came on Ezekiel, the terrible one, rose upon his great haunches and boldly faced Mogul, for the grizzly is absolute monarch57 of the plains, fearing no foe58. For a moment Mogul, the fearless, was daunted59 by the sight of the tremendous creature facing him. With outstretched paws armed with great, razor-like claws, its wide, red mouth bared to show its cruel teeth, the bear came on with savage51, thunder-like growls60. It was unfortunate, however, that Ezekiel did not travel on all fours, for, seeing his advantage, the buffalo lowered its shaggy head, lunged straight for the unprotected stomach of the bear and, before it could even seize him in its terrible grasp, he had pinned its great body to earth, pressing his sharp horns, and making the bear howl for mercy. Then, after goring61 the bear well, without waiting to see whether Ezekiel was able to get up or not Mogul bellowed62 a summons; the cow and calf joined him, and they tore off to join the herd.
One day, as the herd was contentedly grazing together, Mogul and his followers, upon a small plateau which ended in a high cliff, across the plains came a band of hunting Indians. Once the herd becomes frightened it usually starts a stampede. One buffalo cow snorted in alarm, then the whole herd suddenly lost their heads, which was just what the Indians had planned. Wheeling about, Mogul led his herd straight away from the cliff, off towards a canyon. Alas63 for Black King! The Indians were behind him, and, completely losing his head, he charged across the plateau, heading for the cliff. Like thunder was the roar of the thousands of hoofs, which fairly shook the earth as they madly ran, following their leader to certain destruction. Roaring, bellowing, raising the dust in clouds, they ran. Too late! When at the very verge64 of the cliff Black King saw their peril65, he swerved66, bravely trying to turn back. Like an avalanche67 the herd rushed upon him, a great brown waving mass of heads and flashing hoofs, and over the cliff they fell. When the Indians went back to their village they held a festival and gave the great "dance of the war shield" to celebrate their fine hunt. They had enough buffalo meat to feed all the dogs of the village, and skins enough to keep the squaws busy curing them for many moons. Afterwards they had a great feast, and there was joy in every wigwam of the village.
Mogul led his herd for many years, and a mighty68 herd it became, spreading in thousands far across the plain. The mighty thunder of its passing might be heard very far off, and the dust, when it moved, arose on high until it almost reached the sky. Gradually, but surely, the great herd began to diminish and thin out. Once a terrific drought killed many of them. For days and weeks they journeyed, the vast herd seeking old, well-remembered buffalo wallows over the trails, but when reached they were found dried out. The buffaloes pawed and dug deeply into the arid69, salt-caked holes for moisture, but none came. They died by thousands. Afterwards the settlers came across stacks of their bleaching70 bones, lying just where they had fallen. So, weakened and hungry, for the drought had killed off the scant71 herbage, they travelled on, ever westward. Merciless Indians drove them farther on, and hunters of the plains, who coveted72 their valuable skins, made after them. Finally the great herd, all that was left of it, split, as by common consent, and chose a younger leader for their thinned ranks. One day Mogul, the king of the old herd, found himself deserted73, and left to wander alone upon the great plains. In vain he tried to follow the herd, but they soon out-distanced him, and he came to realise that his company was no longer wanted. For many years he wandered, always alone, occasionally seeing scattered74 remnants of the great herd, but gradually they dropped off, either killed by Indians or dying from starvation. Somehow, old Mogul managed to escape the wolves, the skulking75 coyotes, the mountain lions and the Indians. One day, utterly76 lonely, he sighted a vast herd. At first he thought they were buffaloes, but on coming up with them he saw they were long-horned red cattle, which had now taken the place of his lost tribe. Because he longed for company, Mogul joined the red cattle, and they did not molest77 or drive him away.
Now, out on a reservation, somewhere in the West, herding78 with the long-horned cattle of the plains, grazes Mogul, the old buffalo leader. His teeth are broken, but he still crops at the grass, and when he lifts his head you may see that he has but one horn; he lost the other in a fierce battle for his life with a grizzly. Sometimes the old buffalo lifts his great shaggy head and gazes straight out across the broad plains with his old, dim eyes and lows deeply and longingly79, perhaps remembering his lost tribe and other days. When the cowboys round up the cattle, they often point out to strangers from the East a solitary80 old buffalo, grazing, usually somewhat apart from the cattle, on the edge of the herd, and then they say, not without some pride: "See that old buffalo out there. He was once leader of a well-known powerful tribe, but he is old, just how old we cannot say, and he's now the last great buffalo left of a mighty herd."
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1
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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6
skulked
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hooting
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的现在分词 )； 倒好儿； 倒彩 | |
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owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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burrows
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| n.地洞( burrow的名词复数 )v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的第三人称单数 )；翻寻 | |
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thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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12
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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glazing
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| n.玻璃装配业；玻璃窗；上釉；上光v.装玻璃( glaze的现在分词 )；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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21
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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22
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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23
canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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notches
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| n.（边缘或表面上的）V型痕迹( notch的名词复数 )；刻痕；水平；等级 | |
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25
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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cactus
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| n.仙人掌 | |
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sprouts
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| n.新芽，嫩枝( sprout的名词复数 )v.发芽( sprout的第三人称单数 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
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forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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31
romping
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| adj.嬉戏喧闹的，乱蹦乱闹的v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的现在分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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sprouting
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| v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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gambolled
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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38
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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39
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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40
impudently
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41
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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42
gnats
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| n.叮人小虫( gnat的名词复数 ) | |
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43
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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44
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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45
brackish
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| adj.混有盐的；咸的 | |
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46
oozed
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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47
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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48
disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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50
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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51
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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52
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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53
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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54
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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55
cubs
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| n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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56
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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57
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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58
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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59
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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61
goring
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| v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破( gore的现在分词 ) | |
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62
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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63
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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64
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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65
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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66
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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68
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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69
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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70
bleaching
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| 漂白法，漂白 | |
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71
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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72
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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73
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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74
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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75
skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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76
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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77
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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78
herding
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| 中畜群 | |
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79
longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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80
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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