The herd, about twenty in all, came on over the prairie, heading directly for the butte.

They walked in single file, following their leader like Indians on a war-path! They were soon so near, that the hunters could distinguish every part of their bodies--their yellow backs--their white sides and bellies--the short erect manes upon their necks--their delicate limbs--their long pointed muzzles.

They could even perceive the little black spots behind their cheeks, which emit that disagreeable odour--as with the common goat--and on account of which the hunting-trappers, in their unromantic phraseology, have given the name of "goats" to these most graceful animals.
All these peculiarities our young hunters observed as the herd approached.

They had placed themselves behind some willow-bushes, so as not to be seen by the latter.

They observed, too, that there was but one of them with horns, and that was the foremost, or leader.