The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-05-21

must confess that the animal did
not seem the same in the hands o
this wild rider; |, however, ernest,
ly entreated the hunter not TO ex-
pose him too much to the horns o.
the bisons.
owe run the same risk" replied
the buccaneer, laughing. He then
gave us his instructions. We were
TO lie fiat on our Stomachs, gun in
hand, on the slope bordering the riv-
cr, and watch through the long grass
the movements of the animals he
should drive towards us. "Howev.
er," he added, "before placing your
self in ambuscade, you will have
time, senior, to witness such a race
as you will rarely have an opportu-
nifty of seeing. wish to show you
what may be expected of a good
horse mounted by an expert hunter"
He then rushed off in the direc-
ton of the flock of cibolos, whose
distant believing came to us with
the breeze. remained standing on
the edge of the river, in order to lose
nothing of the interesting sight prom
iscd me. The hunter began by max
ing great circuit, clearing with i'm
perturbable ease the prickly fx-trees
and the inequalities of ground with
which the plain was studded; the
horse seemed rather to fly than run,
and neighed ioyfully; the rider then
disappeared behind a hill of some
little elevation. Meanwhile the
buccaneers daring companion had
set in the ground willow branch,
surmounted by a checked scarlet
handkerchief. | asked if this was a
signal for his comrade.
No" replied the hunter. "Bi-
sons are like bulls, red initiates them
If Joaquin gets away one or two,
this handkerchief will infallibly at
tract them here, and we can then
kill them. Be careful TO aim at their
mnzzles at the moment they spring
on us"
"ls it then Indispensable" ask
ed the buccancer, "to attract them
just here p
at is my trade" replied the buc-
cancer, who, like Matasiete, forgot
that was not hunter by profess
sion. As he ceased speaking, we
remarked sort of shudder and aci-
taton in the ranks of the flock of BIZ
sons which covered the lower slopes
Of the hill behind which Joaquin had
disappeared. The rash hunter had
just ascended the opposite height.
When lie reached the summit, he
uttered two shrill screams, which
were answered by prolonged roar
ings, then rushed from top to bottom
Of the hill like a piece of rock break
ing away, and disappeared amid that
thick forest of horns and black
names. The frightened flock made
an alarming movement towards our
signals; but soon dispersed in vari-
Gus directions, broken up into nu-
merous groups. lthen saw Joaquin,
safe and sound, gallop into the midst
of the space he had cleared. Two
bisons Of gigantic size seemed the
leaders of one of the columns de-
tached from the principal flock, and
the hunter seemed to direct his at
tack against these two monstrous
beasts. lowering in the rear of the
battalion with lightness and au-
dacity almost miraculous, Joaquin
by turns appeared and disappeared
without the two leaders quitting
their companions. At last there was
an almost imperccptible space left
between the little troop and its buff
ialo conductors. Swift as lightning,
the hunter rushed into it; but eth
er he had presumed too much on the
agility Of his horse, or it was a
scheme Of his ferocous antagonists,
for | saw with inexpressible anguish
the waves, for moment divided,
close again, and the unfortunate buc-
cancer pressed as in a gulf, whose
|yawning mouth had suddenly closed
upon him. | forgot the horse to
think only of the man, and exchan-
ged look full Of anxiety with poor
Joaquin's companion. The bronzed
cheeks Of the hunter were tinged
with a death-like paleness rife in
hand, he was about to rush to the
assistance Of his comrade, when he
uttered a scream Of JOY and stopped
short. Violently pressed between
the horns of two bisons who had at
last left the column they headed,
Joaquin was standing on his horse,
who was protected from their horns
tby the thick wooden blanket wrap
| ped round him. Whilst the compact
group was thus advancing towards
us, the buccaneer drew out his 70 q.
pier, put one foot on the bison
woolly shoulders, stabbed him, and,
as the animal made last effort
not to die unrevenged, he sprung