Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-16

of the rope. This was not such an easy
matter. The rope was fastened around
the tree, bu, the knot had slipped down
the trunk and lay upon the ground. !
dared not descend for it.
Necessity soon suggested plan. My
"picker"-a piece of straight wire, with
a ring end-hung from one of my breas,
buttons. This | took hold of and bent
into the shape of graphing hook. |
had no cord, but ny knife was still in
its sheath. and. drawing this. cut sew
eral thongs from the skirt of my buckskin
shirt. and knotted them together until
they formed a string long enough to reach
the ground. To one end attached the
picker; and theIeletting it down. ! COM
menced angling for the rope. After
few transverse drags. the hook caught the
taking the whole Of it in until | held the
loose end in my hands. The other end
permitted to remain as it was; ! saw it
was securely knotted around the trunk.
and that was jus, what | wanted. 1t was
my intention 10 lasso the ball; and for
that purpose l proceeded to make run
ning-noose on the end Of the trail rope.
This l executed with great care. and with
all my skill. could depend upon the
rope; it was raw hide. and a better one
was never twisted; but knew that if
anything should chance to slip at the
critical moment, it might cost me my
life. With this knowledge, there
fore. spliced the eye and made the knot
as firm as possible, and then the loop
was recved through, and the thing was
ready.
could throw a lasso tolerably we'll,
but the branches prevented me from wind
ing it. 1t was necessary, therefore. to
get the animal in certain position under
the tree. which. BY shouts and other dem
onstrations. at length succeeded in ef-
fecting. The moment Of success had ar
rived. He stood almost directly below
| me. The moose was shot down. had
the qualification TO see it settle around
his neck, and with quick jerk / tight
ened it. The rope ran beautifully through
the eye, until both eye and loop were bu-
ried beneath the shaggy hair of the ami
mails neck. 1t embraced his throat in
the right place. and felt confident that
il would hold. The moment the bull
felt the jerk upon his ;hroat, he dashed
madly out from the tree. and then com
menced running in circles around it.
Contrary to my intention. the rope had
slipped from my hands at the first drag
upon it. My position was rather an un
steady one, for the branches were slender
and | could not manage matters as well
as could have wished.
But now felt confident enough. The
bull was tethered. and il only remained
for me to get out beyond the length OF
his te,her. and take TO my heels. My
gun lay on one side. near the tree, where
| had dropped it in nj race; this Of course
| meant to carry off with me. ] waited,
therefore. until the animal, in one of his
circles. had got round to the opposite
side. and then slipping down the trunk.
| sprang out, picked up my rifle, and ran.
yards in length, but ran one hundred al
least before making halt. had eten
thoughts Of continuing on, as still could
not help some misgivings about the rope.
The bull was one Of the largest and stron
gest had ever seen. i. The rope might |
break. the knot upon the tree might give |
way. or the moose might slip over his |
head. Curiosity. however. or rather |
desire to be assured of my safety, prompt
ed me TO look round. when. TO my joy. |
] beheld the huge monster stretched upon |
the plain. could see the rope. as tight
as bow string, and the tongue protru-
ding from the animals jaws showed me
that ne was strangling himself as East as |
could desire.
A, the sight. the idea Of buffalo tongue
for supper. returned with all its vigor,
aad it now occurred to me that / should
eat that very tongue. and no other.
Immediately turned in my tracks-'an
towards my powder and balls. which in
eagerness to escape, had forgotten all
about, seized the horn and pouch. poured
in charge. rammed down a bullet, and
then stealing nimbly up behind the still
struggling bull. placed the muzzle with
in three feet OF his brisket, and fred
He gave death kick or two. and then lay
quiet; il was all over with him.
had the tongue from between his teeth
in iwinkling; and proceeding to the
other bull. l finished the operations had
commenced upon him. l was 100 tired
20 think Of carrying a very heavy load.
so contented myself with the tongues,
and Singing these over the barrel of my
rife. shouldered il, and commenced
cropping my way back to camp. The moon
had risen. and had no difficulty in fol-
lowing my own trail, but before had
got half way. met several of nay COM
panions. My horse had got back little
before sunset. His appearance had of
course produced alarm, and half the camp
had turned out in serch Of me. Several
who had relish for fresh meat. galloped
back to strip the bulls of the remaining
titbits; but before midnight all had re-
turned; and to accompaniment OF the
hump-ribs squirting in the cheerful blaze,
| recounted to my companions the de-
tails of my d,enture.
An lrishman who was once on jour-
nov, said he never liked to see tables full
of books and newspapers where he stop