Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-09-01
els AT Tar DENrH.'
A ROCKY MOUNTAIN SIX ETCH.
BY SOLITAIRE.


on the plains, an object owing, which knew
to be buffalo. although in appearance, from
the distance which las between IL and the
spot upon which stood it looked no larger
than common sized du,. | had but few
| moments before returned from n five mile
tramp, alter an unsuccessful examination oi
our traps, and though tipd, resolved. II posi-
/ BILE, to have taste OF buffalo. Tor thi, was the
first we had seen duriuga months spiourn
mong the hlll,-the herd, seldom travelling
50 high up. Acting upon thi, resolution
strdightwsy put on my act mocra>lns, which
| had t3w moments previous, hum upon
rods near our fire.
/ The Indians 80 infested our ncighborhood
that we never moved from camp but with eX-
/ tTcme caution; 80, after concluding my ucCes-
sary Preparations iur start, took general
survey from neighb)ung peak without,
however, discovering sgus ol an enemy. |
counsrlied my companions before | parted
WIN them. Ia keepwath ulmi progress, and
IN the event of their discovering Indians, to
Iniorm me oi the tact b. waving their hiuj-
keTchIeis, and pointing in the direction ia
which they we've seen. Having Concluded all
! preliminary arrangements, | descended into
the valley, nile ~ band aud knife IN belt,
with my ear open 10 tostlls sounds, and my
arm nerNed ior Sigorous defence. Altera te-
/ tuous travel Over broken ways, aud through
deep and dark ri,ines, | reached the valley
aud struck out from the timber, ian order to
gain view ol Nrll's Peak near where our
camp was situated. Another reason for a
volding the covert was the fact of its always
being the red maHs lurking place. la about
two hours tnvcll came near the solitary
buffalo, quietly tetlmg upon slope near the
edge ot a deep o., through which the Drip,
q small tributary A the Colorado, winds. 1
now edged iuto Jhs timber, and, having gain
ed closer posltiol discovered my prey to be-
a large bull; whih, Judged from his timid
manner OF feeding had been separated from
the hcrd by an aitick of Indians, aud hsvius
gained the cnt1n1, 10 the valley, had puTsu-
ed his way 10 thi quiet spot Carefully APP
preaching hun, ijungd favorable stand on
hls leii, aud, polsmg my tru,ty rifle fred
With a snort Ui pain he backed several pa
ccs, and fen upon his launches. Loading a
ghin, advanced 10 desPatch him, when, with
roar OF pain. and with sudden bound, NJ
approached To- within few PAGES ui where
stood. Having but an instant To spare, has
t'ly raised my mi, 4. p0licl trigger. when, to
my horror. the piece missed fire, even while
the IniuTatc animal was - near that his
breath, mingled with his blood, was blown
upon my person. Time Tor thought there was
none. could not regain the timber 80 drop
pIng my rifle, made Tor the ravinc. The
Tor the beast paused to smcl the death deal
lhG weapon, but the next instant, with blood
shot eyes he madly rushed towards me.
looked INTO the Tdvne aud a glance revealed
10 me perpendicular prcCipce at one hun
drcl lcel, with the stream trctting aud boiling,
darn as INK, at The bottom To leap across 1t
was impossiblc-to plunge down, was not to
be thought oi but a. an act ol despair and at
tentative there appeared none. Ia thus have
To coms To a hurried decision, with peril on
every side, the chances were ten Ca one that
the worst horn oi the dilemma would be clIo-
sen. The sequel will show
\ small projection OF about three feet long
10y one wide, upon which grew lew scrubby
bushes, presented itself at about ten feet dis
lance ltou the edge oi the mVine, and, with
out ~ cOnd thnnphi | held a momcut by the
cduP 81 the ptclliGc, ana dropped upon uITs
small she'll, whlch shook aud quiycTed from
The conclusion Oi my load, until iancied
could ieel 1t slil ling from It's place! The thought
was horrible, anil shut my eyes in partial
Swoon, expecting the next moment To bc dash.
td INTO tho bubbiDg current below: but after
waiting reasonable time, and no conclusion
occurring, opened them, aud now NV heart
grew sicA again al the peril ot my position
lrom which there appeared TO prospect oi es-
cape. had spent but q moment ia this con
temPlaiion--and just then thoughts were
speeding rapidly through my brain-when the
lhiuridted bull, his eyes like ball, of fire. and
TIE red current OF Lille spouting from his nos.
trlls, appeared above me on the very brink
MS lore hoois pushing the earth at the edge
upon my head. while from his mouth he de-
luged me Nith a food OF sanguno hue. NV
position was boUiblc--most horrible. lie
paved the cdrthaud lcebly shook his mane ~
II IN cNulidiIOn That his DESTROYER was ab,ut
to be destroyed, and then the deep hcayiup of
his mighty chest would again deugc IN. \, M,
It's torrent of lava, which felt as hot Il, a
shower from Eina, and fell, dying me like
some victim Tor heather sacrifice
Suddenly the struggles OF the wounded buff
ia'o appeared To crdse--the blood poured from
his nusTlls ia an uninterrupted stream hi,
eye grew dim aud its CLASSY stare was fixed
upon mine, while his blood Tor moment
swdycd To aud TO as ii lac was about To sink
down upon the eauh--but dreadful was The
thought, and terrible became the certainty that
I ms huge form was gradually sinking over the
edge ct the prlcipicc, directly above the scdnt
ioo.ng upon Which stood. There was no
escape! Every moment made his fall more
certain, ant, in contemplation OF being hur-
led by thls dying mass into the Cgdg1y bed of
TIE stream beneath, my blood CONCEALED with
terror Slowly bis dark form sank, aud th,
earth crushlugBvay beueathh las bending limbs
battered down upon me, until with apprehcn-
sion. had gTOwa mad, when, with a rushing
sound like an avalanche, the wounded beast
TT tered over tie verge. For moment as
hc struck the projection ou which stool. his
BULK poised. and the next imnutaiIy prasp.
ing lis shaggy uItue / was hurled with him
'p TIE bottom OF ihc a,Inc, my slender resting
place on Tie SIT OF the prccipicc falling a.
round ne In shower wa, stunned ior a
moment with 'le shock the cold sttean hub.
h.ins around nr soon brought back cons iou--
mess. when found ihat nav antagonist had
harwiN fallen umicrmnsr lIi, lum had bro
,n ihe force at uiy plunge into thc 1s,iur. 49,
after washing ue status OF victory ifom my
person, tui outa tow steaks as O. proof ul my
h.ing iu at the Death and lci lu- carcas.
To- iie wolves, well satisfied with my Share ol
itUf game