The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-05-21
ltuniing Bison in the Wifd- Of Mexico.

bl0plls ~ NouAt iHbi Z
than rash for two hunters to face
these numerous Aocks. There is
but one way of killing bison or two
without much danger, that is, by
separating them from the flock the
skill and agility of the hunter ac-
compliSh the rest. Contrary to the
expectation of my two companions,
the ciJoioS took the direction paral-
lei to the river; and none of them
ventured to our side.
The first European who saw a BIZ
son must have been much alarmed.
The bison is larger than the common
bull a thick name, either black or
rust color, covers his shoulder or
breast, and hangs down to lis feet.
The hind part of the animal, from
the hump on his shoulders, is cover
ed with short hair as harsh as the
lions, and like the lions, incessant-
ly dashed by sinewy tail. His hea-
w tread shakes the ground, his bel
lowing disturbs the air, his eyes ex-
pressiye Of nothing but stupid feroc-
ity: and the black, sharp horns
planted on his wide brow complete
his appearance as an object of ter
ror.
Whilst observing, not without
veXation, the manGuvres Of these
gigantic focks, one of the hunters
was examining, en- c0nnoiSse1r, my
horse, which the darkness of the
night had hitherto prevented lis do
ing.
"CayamJa" said he, "tlis deep
chest, slender legs, dilated nostrils,
and thin body, announce an unusual
degree of swiftneSS."
"My horse" ! replied, with the
faulty Of man who knows the val
ne Of his possessions, sis deer for
mule for bearing ia
tigue."
"And a bison for Swiftncss," in
tcrrupted the hunter. "Well, then,
to come TO the point, senior, you
might render me a very great SER
vice"
"Speak What is it"
"You see out there that flock tf
cibolos looking as if they avoided us.
Since your horse is SO swift, gallop
boldly up to the towards, and fire
once or twice as close to them as
possible /; you will wound one at
least; the entire band will pursue
you, but you will easily outstrip
them. The most active, conse-
quently the strongest, will alone
keep up with you, and we will man
age them"
"Are you serious ?" asked. The
hunter looked at me with astonish-
ment. "If my horse were to fall ?"
Gle will not fall"
"But if he should fall ?"
"Why, in that case you would
have very slender chances OF escape.
Yet even that has been known; but
should you fall so gloriously, prom
Use to make a fearful massacre of ci-
bolos in your honor"
''Listen," said /, "there are a
thousand things | would do for you
in preference to this. | involunta-
rily hunted a tiger few days ago,
a bear last night, and | do not care
now to allow myself to be hunted by
a bison. Everything considered, |
prefer lending you my horse"
81 did not venture to ask such a
favor; and, besides," naively added
the hunter, 81 thought to please you
by proposing this diversion to you"
| thanked him for his kind inten-
tons; and, although delighted to cs-
cape this dilemma, | gave him the
rein of my horse with sigh. The
buccaneer began by unsaddling him,
folded up four times the blanket
which he used as cloak, and fast
ened it on the horses back, by means
of the long JGia of China Grape roll
ed round his body. Then taking of
his c0l-0neraS, doe-skin boots and
jacket, he remained with bare feet,
in short drawers and shirt sleeves.
GAS the game | am going to play
is somewhat ticklish one" said he,
81 cannot give the horse and myself
too much freedom of motion, and YOU
will see what can be done with an
animal properly arranged"
Thus equipped, and having hung
a species of rapier, very thin and
sharp, to his saddle, the hunter
sprung on the horses back, and as
certained that in case of necessity
the (aja might be used as stirrups
and bear the entire weight of his bo-
dy, thus enabling him to leave the
reins perfectly free. Then with a
dexterity which must have equalled
that of the ancient Numidians, he
pulled up his horse, urged him for
wards, stopped him, rolled up in. his
left hand the cabrestO,* of which he
held one extremity, galloped off like
an arrow, and returned TO my side
with the same rapidity.