Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-11-13
Ride on a Buffalo.

Ride on a Buffalo.
Captain Mayne Reid, in his new work, The
Scalp Hunters, tells the following rather ad-
venturous story. In journey across the
prairie from St. Louis to Santa Fe, the hero,
in camping out with party of hunters, is sud-
denly surprised at night by the rush of herd
of many thousand bnffaloes, career:ng mady
along together in a dense body across the plain,
the denouement of which is thus described
'Isprang to my feet, flinging aside my
blanket. A fearful spectacle was before me-
Away to the West as far as the eve could
reach, the prairie seemed in motion. Black
waves rolled over its undulating outlines, as
though some burning mountain was pouring
down its lava upon the plains. A thousand
bright spots flashed and fitted along the mov-
ing surface like jets of fire. The ground
shook, men shouted, horses reared upon their
ropes, neighing wildly. My dog barked, and
howled, running around me.
For moment thought was dreaming ::
for vision. | saw the border of the black
wave within ten PAGES of me, and still ap-
preaching. Then, and not till then, did
recognize the shaggy chests and glaring eye
balls of the buffalo.
Heavens. am in their track. l shall
be trampled TO death
1t was too late to attempt an escape by
running. seized my rifle and fired at the
foremost of the band. The effect of nv shot
was not perceptible. The water of the arroyo
was dashed in my 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 air. | was
thrown rearwards and fell upon moving mass.
| did not feel hurt nor stunned. / felt myself
carried onward upon the backs of several ami
mails, that in the drove, ran close together
These, frightened at their strange burden, bel
| lowed loudly, and dashed on TO the front. A
sudden thought struck me, dropped my legs
astride of him, embracing his hump, and
clutching the long woolly hair that grew upon
his neck. The animal "routed" with extreme
terror, and plunging forward, soon headed the
band.
| This was exactly what | wanted and on
we went over the prairie, the bull running at
top speed, believing, no doubt, that he had a
panther or a catamount between his shoulders
Il had no desire to disabuse him of this be-
lief; and lest he should deem me altogeth-
er harmless, and come to halt, slipped out
my bowie, which happened to he handy, and
pricked him up whenever he showed symptoms
of tagging. At every first touch of the ''spur"
he roared out, and ran forward at redoubled
pace.
My danger was still extreme. The drove
was coming on behind, with a front of nearly a
mile. l could not have cleared it, had the
bull stopped and left me on the prairie.
Notwithstanding the peril l was in,
could not resist laughing at my own ridiculous
situation; felt as one does when looking al
a good comedy.
I'VE struck through village CT "prairie
dogs" Here fancied the animal was about
to turn back. This brought my mirth TO sud-
den pause; but the buffalo usually runs in a
"bee line,' and fortunately mine made no ex.
ception to the law. On he went, sinking to
the knees, kicking the dust from the conical
hills, snorting and believing with rage and
terror.
|
The "Plum buttes'' were directly in the
line of our course. l had seen this from the
start, and knew that i'll could reach them
would be safe. They were nearly three miles
from the bluff where we had bivouacked bu,
in my ride fancied them ten.
"A small one rose over the prairie, several
hundred yaros nearer than the main heights
Towards this I prcked the foaming bull in :
last stretch and he brought me cleverly with
| in hundred yards of its base.
1t was now time to take leave Of my dusk,
companion could have slaughtered him a
leaned over his back. Ny knife rested upol
; the most vulnerable part of his huge body
f No! would not have slain that buffalo 70
the Koh-i-noor
! Untwisting my fingers from his thick feec
5 | slipped down over his tail, and without a
\ much as saying GOOD Night" ran with al
my speed towards the knoll. climbed up
, and sitting down upon loose boulder of rock
5 looked out over the prairie.
D The moon was still shining brightly. M
, late companion had halted not far from wher
had left him, and stood glaring back with
3 look of extreme bewilderment. There wa
I something so comieal in the sight, that ] yelle