The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-09-20

held on to my rifle and seeing now tina
l might have time to load it, I com
mencod feeling for my powder-horn. TC
my astonishment, I could not lay my
hands upon it looked down to my
breast for the sling-it was not there
belt and bullet.pouch too-all were gone
I remembered lifting them over my head
when | set about cutting the dead bull
They were lying by the carcass. This
discovery was new source of chagrin
but for my negligence. could now have
mastered my antagonist. To reach the
ammunition would be impossible; ]
shoulG bo overtakon before [ had got
half way to it l was not allowed much
time to indulge in my regrets; the bull
had again turned the ditch, and was once
more upon the same side with mo, and |
was compelled to take another leap.
really do not remember how often
sprang backwards and forwards across
the chasm 1 should think a score OF
times at least: | became wearied with
the exercise. The leap was just as much
as | could do at my best, and as ! was
growing weaker at each fresh spring, |
became satisfied that I should soon leap
short, and crush myself against the steep
rocky sides of the chasm Should fall
to the bottom, my pursucr could easily
reach me by entering at either end, and
| began to dread such finale. The
vengcful brute showed no symptoms Of
retiring on the contrary, the numerous
dislppointments seemed only to render
him more determined in his resentment.
An idea now sugg sted itself to my
mind. l had looked all round 10 see il
there might not be something that of
fercd better security. There were
trees but they were too distant the on
ly one near was that to which my horse
had been tied. 1t was small one, and
like all of its species Git was n cotton
woody. there were no branches near the
root. | knew that | could Chamber up
it by embracing tho trunk, which was
not over ten inches in diameter Could
| only succeed in reaching it, it would
at least shelter me better than the ditch,
Of which | was getting heartily tired
before the bull 1t was about 800 yards
off. BY proper man@uvring | should
have a start of fifty. Even with that,it
would be close shave" and it proved
SO. arrived at the tree, and sprang up
it like mountebank but the hot breath
of the buffalo steamed after me as | as
ccndcd, and the conclusion of his heavy
skull against the trunk almost shook me
back UPON his horns. After severe ef.
fort, | succeeded in lodging myself among
the branches.
| was now safe from all immediate dam
ger, but how was tho affair to end ? !
knew from the experience of others, that
my enemy might stay for hours by the
tree-perhaps days Hours would be
enough | could not stand it long |
hungercd but worse appetite tortured
me thirst. The hot sun, the dust, the
violent exercise Of the past hour, all con.
tributcd to make mo thirsty. Even then,
/ would have risked life for draught of
water. What would it come to should
| not be relieved l had but one hope
that my companions would come to
my relief; but | knew that that would
not be before morning They would
miss me of course. Perhaps my horse
would return to camp-that would send
them out in search Of mc-but not be-
fore night had fallen In the darkness
they could not follow my trail Could
they do so in the lightl This last ques-
tim, which had put to myself. startled
me | was just in condition to look
upon the dark side Of everything, ana it
now occurred to me that they might not
be able to find me There were many
possibilities that they might not There
were numerous horse trails on the prai,
ric. where Indians had passed. ] saw
this when tracking the buffalo Besides,
it might rain in the night, and obliteraic
them all--minc with the rest. A circle of
ten miles diameter is large tract 1t
was rolling prairie, full of inequalities,
ridges with valleys between, The tree
upon which 1 was perchel stood in the
bottom of one of the valleys--it could
not be seen from any point over 500 yards
distant. Those searching for me might
pass within hail, without perceiving ei.
ther the tree or the valley
| remained for a long time busted with
such gloomy thoughts and forebodlngs.
Night was ceming on, but the fierce aud
obstinate brute showed no disposition to
raise the siege. He remained watchful
as ever, walking round aud round at in-
tcrvals, lashing his tail,and uttering that
snortine sound so well known to the
pfaire hunter and which so much resem-
bles the snufiug of hogs when suddenly
alarmed
While watching his various maneu-
vres, an object on the ground drew my
attcntion-'it was tho trail rope left by
my horse. One cnd was fastened round
the trunk by firm knot -..thc other lay
far out upon the prairie, where it had
been dragged. My attention had been
drawn to il by the bull himself which in
crossing he had noticed, and now and
then paved it with his hoofs.
All at once bright idea flashed upon
me-a sudden hope arose within me-a
plan OF escape presented itself, so FEAST
BILE and possible, that / leapcd in my
perch as the thought struck me
The first step was to get possession of
the rope. This was not such an easy
matter. The rope was fastened around
the tree, but the knot had slipped down
the trunk and lay upon the ground.
dared not descend forit
Necessity soon suggested a plan. My
picker "a piece of straight wire with
a ring-end-hung from one of my breast
buttons. This | took hold Of, aud bent
into the shape of a graphing hook
had no cord, but my knife was still safe