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

| Tell 10 MS knets-IOsc oBoiH-sPieo" ou
his legs as if TO prevent second fall
rocked from side TO side like a cradle again
come to his knees; and after remaining
in this position for some minutes with
the blood running from his nostrils. rolled
quietly over OIL his shoulder and lay dead
| had watched these manGvers with
interest, and permitted the second bull tc
make his escape, side glance had show
ed me the latter appearing on the cres
of the swell. did not care to follow
him. as my horse was somewhat jaded
and | knew it would cost me sharp gal
lo2 to come up with him again; 50
thought no more of him at the time, but
alighted and prepared TO deal with the
one already slain. There stood SOL
itary tree near the spot. il was stunt
ed elm. There were Others upon the
prairie but they were distant; this one
was not twenty yards from the carcass
/ led my horse up to it, and taking the
trail-rope from the horn Of the saddle
made one end fast to the bit-ring and the
other 20 the tree. then went back,
drew my knife. and proceeded to cut the
buffalo.
had hardly whetted my blade. when
noise from behind caused me to leap tO
an upright attitude. and look round: a,
the first glance comprehended all. A
huge dark object was passing the crest Of
the ridge. and rushing down the hill to-
ward the spot where stood. II Was the
l. Ill ~. haI su=t tpf 4
me. The sight at the first thought Tath-
er pleased me than otherwise. Although
| | did not want any more meat. l should
have the triumph Of carrying two tongues
| Instead of one to camp; | therefore hur-
riedly sheathed ny knife and laid hold of
nav rife. which according to custom, |
| had taken the precaution to reload.
hesitated moment whether TO run to
my horse and mount him. or to fire from
where stood; that question. however.
was settled by the buffalo. The tree and
| the horse were to one side of the direc-
tion in which he was running; but being
| attracted by the loud snorting of the lat
ter. which had begun to pitch and plunge
violently, and deeming ii perhaps a cha!
lenge. he suddenly swerved from his
course. and ran full tilt upon the horse
The latter shot out instantly to the full
leugth Of the trail-rope; heavy "pluck"
sounded in my ears, and the next instant
saw my horse part from the tree, and
scour off over the prairie. as if there had
bsen thistle under his tail. | had knot
ted the rope negligently upon the Bit
ring. and the knot had come undone.
| was chagrined. but not alarmed, as
yet. My horse would no doubt follow
back kis own trail. and at the worst
should only have 10 walk to the camp. |
should have the satisfaction of Furnishing
the buffalo for the trick he had served
me; and with this design turned towards
him. saw that he had not followed the
horse. but was again heading himself in
my direction Now. for .Ee FIRST time.
il appeared 10 ME that | was in some.
thing Of scrape. The hull was coming
furiodsly on. Should my shot miss. or
even should il only wound him, how was
1 to escape? l knew that he could over
take me in three minutes stretch, knew
that we'll.
had not much time for reflection
not moment in fact; the fnfuriated an
imal was within ten PAGES of me. rais-
ed my rifle aimed at his foreshnulder and
fired. i saw that had hit him. but. to
my dismay. he neither fell nor stumbled.
but continued to charge forward more flu
riously than ever. To reload was i'm.
possible. My pistols had gone off with
my horse and holsters. Even to reach
the tree was impossible; the bull was be-
tween it and me. Right in the opposite
direction was the only thing that held
ou, any prospect of five minutes safety.
| turned and ran. can run as fast as
most men, and upon that occasion did
my best. 1t would have put "Gilder.
sleeve" into a white sweat TO have dis
tdnced me; had not been two minutes
at it. when felt conscious that the buff
falo gained upon me, and was almost
treading upon my heels. knew it only
by my ears-I dared not spare time to
look back.
At this moment. an object appeared
before me, that promised, one way or an
other. to interrupt the chase; it was
ditch or gully. that intersected my path
at right angles. 1t was several feet in
depth, dry at the bottom, and with per.
pendicular sides. was almost upon its
edge before noticed it. but the moment
it came under my eye. saw that i, Of
fsred the means of temporary safety at
least. II | could only leap this gully.
felt satisfied that the buffalo could not.
1t was a sharp leap-at least. seventeen
feet from cheek to cheek; but had done
more than that in my time; and, with.
out halting in my gait. ran forward to
the edge and sprang over. alighted
cleverly upon the opposite bank. where
stopped and turned round to watch my
pursuer. | now ascertained how uear
my end / had been; the bull was already
up TO the gully. had l not made my leap
the instant did. should have been by
that time dancing upon his horns. He
himself had baked at the leap; the deep
chasm-like cleft had cowed him. He
saw that he could not clear it, and now
stool upon the opposite bank with head
lowered, end spread nostrils. his tail lash.
ing his SIN Doth flanks. while his glaring
black eyes expressed the full measure Of