The southern press., 1851-09-24
An Impromptu Buffalo Ride.

! sprang to my feet firging aside my blanket.
A fearful spectacle was before ne. Away to
the west, as far as the eye could reach. the
prairie seemed in motion. Black waves rolled
over its undulating outlines, as though some
burning mountain was pouring down its lava
npon its plains. A thousand bright spots
flashed End fitted along the moving surface
| like jets Of fire. The ground shook, men
shouted, horses reared upon their ropes, neghng
wildly. My dog barked and howled, running
around me. For moment thought was
dreaming; but no, the scene was too real to be
mistaken for vision. saw the border of the
black wave within ten PAGES of me, and still sr-
proachng Then, and not till then, did re-
cognise the shaggy crests and glaring eye.balls
of the buffalo. "Good heaven lam on their
track will be trampled TO death" Il was
too late 10 attempt an escape by running
seized my rifle and fired nj the foremost of the
band. The effect af my shot was not percepii-
bic. The water Of the arroyo was dashed in
nv face. A huge bull, ahead Of the rest,
furious and snorting, plunged through the
stream and up the slope. ] was lifted and
tossed high into the mir. was thrown rear
wards, and fell rpon moving mass. did not
feel hurt or stunned.
] felt myself carried onward upon the backs
Of several animals, that in the dense drove ran
close together. These. frightened at their
strange burden. beloved loudly, and dashed on
10 the front. A sudden thought struck me. and
fixing on that which was most under me, drop
ped my legs astridO Of him, embracing his
hump, and ciutehing the long wooly hair that
grew upon bis neck. The animal routed
with extreme terror and soon headed the band.
This was exactly what wanted and on we went
over the prairie, The b. u running at top speed,
believing, no coubi, that he had panther or a
catamo6nt between hi shoulders had no de-
sire to disabuse him Of his belief; and. lest he
shond deem me altogether harmless, and come
| 20 a halt, slipped ont my bowie. which hap-
pened 20 be handy" 9nd pricked him when
ever he showed signs of tagging. At every
fresh touch Of the "srur" he roared ont, and
ran forward n redonbled pace Ny danger
was still extreme. The drove was coming on
behind, with front nearly mile. cotild not
lave cleared Il, had the bull stopped and lea me
on the prairie. Notwithstanding the peril 7 was
in. could not resist laughing at my ludierous
situation; ] felt ne one does when looking ut
a good comedy. We struck through n village
Of "prairie dogs" Here faucicd the animal
was about 10 turn and run back. This brought
my nitth to n sudden pause bit the buffalo
usually runs In n bee line" and fortunately
mine made no exception 10 the Law. On he
/
the conical bills, snorting and believing with
rage and terror
| The "plum buttes" were directly in the line
of onr course. had seen this from the start,
and knew that IL coud repch them would be
safe. They were nearly three miles from the
bluff where we had bivouacked but, in my ride,
! fancsed them ten. a small one 70. e over tie
prairie, several hundred yards nearer than the
min heights. Towards this pricked the foam
ing bull in n las, stretch and he brought me
clcverly within a hundred yards Of iis base. u
was now time TO take leave Of nv dusky com.
panion. fcould have slaughtered him rs tleaned
over his back. Ny knife rested upon the most
vulnerable part Of his huge body. No. would
not have slain that buffalo for the Koh.i Moor
Untwsting my fingers from his thick fleece
slipped down over his tail, and, without as much
as saving good night" ran with al my speed
TO the knoll climbed MP, and sitting down on
loose boulder Of rock looked over the prairie.
The moon was stl shining brightly. NV late
companion had halted not fnr from where had
left him, and stood glaring back with look Of
bewilderment There was something 30 conf
cal in the sight that yelled with laughter as
sat securely in my pefch.-T'he Scalp Hunters.