"It is right, Barney. The hide-hunter has destroyed the buffalo. The creatures were slaughtered by thousands, stripped of their hides, and their carcasses left to rot and make food for wolves and vultures." "An' wur there no law to stop th' killin' av thim?" "No. If there had been, it could not have been enforced on the great plains. The railroad, civilization, and the white man's lust for killing, which he calls sport, doomed the buffalo. "But this is not getting a picture of 'real wild buffalo.' I have pictures of Golden Gate Pass, Fire Hole Basin, Union Geysers, and almost everything else but wild buffalo, and I have vowed I would not leave the park till I had one of the latter. Come on." He backed from the crest of the ridge and down the slope, Barney following. In a few moments the boys could rise to their feet and make their way along. Both were armed, for it was not known what danger they might encounter, and wild animals of all kinds were plentiful enough, from the beaver to the grizzly bear, thanks to the very effective policing of the park by two troops of United States Cavalry. Two regiments could not entirely prevent poaching, but two troops were very successful, and the boys had found sections of the American Wonderland exactly as primitive as when the lonely trapper Coulter made his famous journey through it. Frank and Barney had taken care not to slaughter any of the game they saw, although they had been tempted by wild geese, which were so tame they would hardly get out of the way, and by deer and bears innumerable. The lads believed in the laws which protected these creatures, and knew that this great game preserve and breeding-ground, if not disturbed, must always give an overflow into Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, which will make big game shooting there for years to come. Frank led the way at a swift pace, keeping the ridge between them and the buffalo for a time, and then making use of other shelter. It was nearly an hour before they came round to the windward side of the herd and began working in upon it. All at once, with a low exclamation, Frank stopped, shifted his position quickly, and hissed: "Down, Barney!" "Pwhat is it, Frankie?" "Be careful! Look there by the base of that bluff. Can you see them?" "Oi see something moving. Pwhat is it?" "Hunters, I reckon." "Afther th' boofalo?" "Yes. They are nearer than we are, and they will be taking a shot at the creatures in a minute. It's a shame! If the soldier-police were only here!" "Nivver a bit do Oi loike th' oidea av seein' thim boofalo shot onliss Oi can do th' shootin'." "No more do I, and I am not going to stand it! Come on, Barney. We'll get after those fellows. We may be able to stop them before they shoot, and then get a picture of the buffalo afterward. Lively now."