Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-09-16
"N AT THE DEATH. "
A ROCKY MOUNTAIN SKETCH.

BY sOLlIAlhEs
On bright June morning, while seated
in camp on lofty ridge near the Colorado
river, in which, with two companions, |
was engaged in trapping beaver, dis
cried, far down on the plains, an object
moving, which knew TO be buffalo, al
though, in appearance, from the distance
which lay between it and the spot upon
which stood, it looked no larger than a
common sized dog. had but few mo-
ments before returned from five mile
tramp, after an Unsuccessful examination
of our traps, and, though tired, resolved,
if possible, to have taste OF buffalo, for
this was the first we had seen during n
months soiourn among the hils--the
herds seldom travelling so high up. Act
ing upon this resolution straitway put on
my wet moccasins, which | had, few mo
men.s previous, hung on rods near our fire.
The Indians so infested our neighbor-
hood that we never had moved camp but
with extreme cautions so, after concluding
nv necessary preparations for start, /
took general survey from neighboring
oeak, without, however, discovering signs
of an enemy. counselled my compan-
ions, before | parted with them, 10 keep
watch of my progress, and in tho event Of
their discovering Indians, 10 inform me OF
the fact by waving their handkerchefs and
pointing in the direction in which they
we're seen. Having concluded all pre-
lminary arrangements, | descended into
the valley, rifle in hand and knife in belt,
with my ear open to hostile sounds, and
my arm neryed for vigorous defence. AT
ter tedious travel over broken ways, and
through deep dark ravines, | reached The
valley, and struck out from the timber, in
order to gain view Of Nell's Peak, near
where our camp was situated. Another
reason for avoiding the covert was the fact
Of it always being the red mans lurking
place. In about two hours travel came
near the solitary buffalo, quietly feeding
upon slope near the edge OF deep ra-
vine, through which the Drip, small tri-
butary Of the Colorado, winds. | now
edged into the timber, and, having gain
ed a closer position, discovered my prey
to be large ball, which, judged, from
his timid manner of feeding, had been Sc
parated from the herd by an attack of In
dams, and, having gained the entrance TO
the valley, had pursued his way TO this
quiet spot. Carefully approaching him, !
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 10 despatch him, when,
with roar OF pain, and with sudden
bound, he approached TO within a few
PAGES Of where | stood. Having but an
instant to spare, hastily raised my rifle
and pulled trigger, when, to my horror,
the peace missed fire, even while the in.
furiate animal was SO near that his breath
mingled with his blood, was blown upon
my person. Time for thought there was
none. could not regain the timber, So
dropping my rifle, made for the rayine
The riho was a moments diversion in my
favor, for the beast paused TO smell the
death.dealing weapon, but the next in
hluIlL, WIN blOOu-shpt Coz Nv aa'N~'J 49,
cd towards me. looked into the rayine
and glance revealed to me perpendlcu
lar precipice of one hundred feet, with The
stream freltng and boiling, dark as ink
at the bottom! To leap across il was i'm
possible-to plunge down was not to b'
thought Of but as an act OF despair, aDt
alternative there appeared none. To thu
have to come 10 hurried decision, wit
peril on every side, the chances we're tel
10 one that the worst horn Of the llemm
would be chosen. The sequal will show
A small projection Of about three fee
long by one wide, upon which grew fe'
scrUbby bushes, presented itself about To-
fee, distance from the edge Of the rayint
and, wilhou, a second thought, held
moment by the edge Of the precipicc, an
dropped upon this small shelf which shoe
and quivered from the conclusion Of m
!. leap, until fancied could feel Il slldn