Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-08-30
A BUFFALO HUNT.

A BUFFALO HUNT.
We had scarcely gone a mile when an
imposing spectacle presented itself From
the river bank on the right, away over the
swelling prairie on the left, and in front as
far as we could see, extended one vast host
of bufialoes. The outskirts of the herd
were within quarter of mile of us. In
many parts they were crowded so densey
together, that in the distance their rounded
backs presented a surface of unifrm black
ness; but elsewhere they were more scat
tered, and from amid the multitude rose
little columns of dust where the bulfaloes
were rolling on the ground. Here and
there great confusion was perceptible,
where battle was going forward among the
bulls. We could distinctly see them rush
ing against each other, aud hear the clat-
tering of their horns and their hoarse bel
lowing. Shaw was riding at some distance
in advagce, with Henry Chatlion; | saw
him stop aud draw the leather covering
from his gun. Indeed, with such sight
before us, but one thing could be thought
Of That morning | had used pistols in the
chase. l had now a mind TO try the virtue
Of gun. Delorier had one, and rode up
TO the side of the cart; there he sat under
the white covering, biting his pipe between
his teeth and grinning with excitement
Lend me your gun, Delorier," said |.
Oul, monsieur, oui," said Deorier,
tuggiHg with might and main to stop the
mule which seemed to be obsiinately bent
on going forward. Then every thing but
his moccasins disappeared as he crawled
into the cart and pulled at the gun to extri-
cate it.
" Is it loaded % asked.
"Oui, bein charge, you'll kill, non bour-
geols yes you'll kill-eleit un bon iusil."
handed him my rife, and rode forward
to Shaw.
-" Are you ready?" he asked.
Come OH" said |.
"You keep down that hollow" said
Henry, and they will not see you till you
get close to them"
The hollow was kind of ravine very
wide and shallow; it ran obliquely towards
the buffalo, and we rode at Il canter along
the bottom till it became too shallow, when
we bent close to our horses neck, and then
finding it could no longer conceal us, came
out of it and rode directly at the herd. 1t
was within gun shot; before its outskirts
numerous grizzly old bulls were scattered,
holding guard over their females. They
glared in anger and establishment, walked
towards US few yards, and then turning
slowly round, retreated at trot which ai-
forwards broke into II galop. In an in
slant the main body caught the alarm
The buffalo began to crowd away from the
po.nt towards which we were approaching
and gap was opened in the side of the
herd. We entered it. still restraining our
excited horses. Every instant the tumult
was thickenng. The bufi'sloes pressing to-
gether in large bodies, crowded away from
us on every hand. In front and on either
side, we could see dark columns and mas
SEES, half hidden by clouds of dust, rushing
along in terror and confusion, and hear the
tramp and Gathering Of ten thousand hools
The countless muI,itudes of powerful brutes
Ignorant of their own strength, were flying
in panic, from the approach of two feeble
horsomen. To remnln quiet longer was
impossible.
Take that band on the left" said Shaw a.;
"Pll take those in front"
He sprang of, and saw no more of him.
a heavy Indian whip was fastened by a
band to my wrist; | swung it into the air
and dashed my horses flank with all the
strength of my arm. Away she darted
stretching close to the ground. ! could see
nothing but a cloud of dust before me, but
| knew it concealed band of many hun
dreds Of buffalo. In a moment | was in
the midst of the cloud, half suffocated by
the dust, and stunned by tie trampling of
the flying herd; but | was drunk with the
chase and cared for nothing but the buffalo
Very soon dark mass became visible,
looming through the dust then could
distinguish each bulky carcase, the hools
/ flying out beneath, and the short tails held
rigidly erect In moment was so close
To them that | could have touched them
with my gun. Suddenly, TO my utter as
constituent, the hoots were jerked upwards,
the tail llourished in the air, and amid a
cloud of dust, the buffalo seemed to sink
into the earth before me.
One vivid impression of that instant re-
mains upon my mind remember looking
down upon the backs of several buffalo
dimly visible through the dust. We had
run unawares upon rayne. AT that mo-
ment was not the most accurate Judge Of
depth and width, but when passed it on
my return, found it about twelve feet
and not quite twice as wide at the bottom.
1t was impossible TO stop; | would have
done so gladly if could, SO halt-sliding
halfplunging, my mare fell down on her
knees in the loose sand at the bottom; /
was pitched forward violently on her neck
and nearly thrown over her head among the
buffalo, who, amid dust and confusion, came
tumbing in all around. The mare was on
her feet in an instant, and scrambling like
cat up the opposite side--I thought for a
moment she would have fallen back and
crushed me, but with violent effort she
clanbered out and gained the hard prairie
above. CHANGING back | saw the huge
head of a bull clnging as it were by the
fore feet at the edge Of the dusty gulf, At
length | was fairly among the buffalo
They we're less densely crowded than be-
fore, and could see nothing but bulls,
who always run at the rear of herds As
passed amid them they would lower their