The whole party followed in her
steps, some too indolent to oppose, others obedient to her will, and
all more or less excited by the uncommon character of the scene.
"Tell me, you Abner--Abiram--Ishmael!" the woman cried, standing over
a spot where the earth was trampled and beaten, and plainly sprinkled
with blood; "tell me, you who ar' hunters! what sort of animal has
here met his death?--Speak!--Ye ar' men, and used to the signs of the
plains; is it the blood of wolf or panther?"
"A buffaloe--and a noble and powerful creatur' has it been!" returned
the squatter, who looked down calmly on the fatal signs which so
strangely affected his wife. "Here are the marks of the spot where he
has struck his hoofs into the earth, in the death-struggle; and yonder
he has plunged and torn the ground with his horns. Ay, a buffaloe bull
of wonderful strength and courage has he been!"
"And who has slain him?" continued Esther; "man where are the offals?
--Wolves!--They devour not the hide! Tell me, ye men and hunters, is
this the blood of a beast?"
"The creatur' has plunged over the hillock," said Abner, who had
proceeded a short distance beyond the rest of the party.
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