Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-09-15

lar system, as QOuDtlcSS SDe ndu neE own
isolated tribes.--GaIe. Jeff.
SIN at the Death -
: SOS by SOLITAIRE. ~ assik
Onsa bright June morning, while seat.
ed in camp on lofty ridge near the Col
orado river in which, with two compan.
ions, was engagedin trapping beaver
I deserted, far down on the plains. an OBJ
ject moving to which knew to be baf-
talo, although in appearance, from the
distance which lay between it and the
spot upon which | stood, it looked no lar
ger than common sized dog. / had
bot a few moments before returned from
q FIVE mile tramp, after an unsuccessful
examination of our traps, and, though tired
Iresolyed if possible to have a taste of
buffalo, for this was the first we had seen
during months sojourn among the hills
the herds seldom travelling so high up.
Acting upon. this resolution, l straight
way put on my wet moceasins, which |
had few moments previous hung upon
rods near our fire.
The Indians so infested our neighbour
hood that we neyermoved from camp but
with extreme caution; so, after concluding
my necessary preparations for a start.
took general survey from a neighbour
ing peak--.without. however, discovering
signs of an enemy. counselled my
companions, before parted with them,
to keep watch ofmy progress, and in the
event oftheir discovering indians, TO in
form me Of the fact by waving their hand
kerchiefs and pointing in the direction in
which they were seen. Having conclu-
ded all preliminary arrangements,;l des-
cended into the valley, rifle in hand and
knife in belt, with my ear open to hostile
sounds, and my arm nerved for vigorous
defence. After tedious travelover bro
ken ways and through deep and dark ra-
vines, reached the valley, and struck out
from the timber, in order to gain a view
of Neii's peak, near where our camp was
situated. Another reason for avoiding the
covert was the fact gifts always being the
red mans lurking place. In about two
hours travel Icame nearthe solitary buff
falo, quietly feeding on a slope near the
edge of a4deep rayine, through which the
Drip, small tributary of the Colorado,
winds. now edged into the timber, and
having gained closer position, discover
ed my prey to be large bull, which 1
judged, from his timid manner of feed, had
heen separated from the herd by an at.
tack of Indians, and having gained the en-
trance to the valley, had pursued his way
to this quiet spot. Carefully approaching
himsI gained favorable stand on his left
and posing my trusty rife, fired. With a
snort of pain, he backed several PAGES and
fell upon his launches, Loading again,
advanced to dispatch him, when, with
rear of pain and with sudden bound
he approached to within a few PAGES of
where stood. Having but an instant to
spare, i hastily raised my rifle and pulled
trigger, when, to my horror, the piece
missed fire, even. while tho 8infu-.
rate animal was so near that his breath
mingled with his blood, was blown upon
! my person Time for thought was none.
| could not regain.the timber, so dropping
my rifle, made for the rayine. The ri
| file was moments diversion in my favor,
| for the beast paused TO smellsthe death.
dealing weapon; butt the nextinstant, with
blood-shot eyes, he rushed towards me.
looked into the ravine, and a glance re-
Eyealedt to rue perpendicular pfecipiees Of
ofo.e hundred feett with the stream fret
ting and boiling, dark as ink at the bottorni
To leap across 1T. was imeossible--tc
4plunge down was not to he thought Of
but as aci sof despair--and alternative
there appearedsto be none. To thus have
come to q hurried decision, with peril on
every side, the chances were ten to one
| that the worst.horn of the dilemma would
be chosen. The sequel viii show g :
a small projection. Of about three fec:
long by one wide, upon which grew few
scrubhy bushes, presented itself at abuu'
ten feet distance from the edge Of the "a.
lfgihe, and, without second thought,
/ held a moment by the edge Of the preci.
pice. and dropped upon this small shelf
which shook and quivered from the con