The Empire County argus., 1854-04-29
A. Ell DORADO COUNTY, CAL SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL 49, 1854
down the trunk and lay upon the ground. dared
NOT on,,J -

down the trunk and lay upon the ground dared
not descend for it,
Necessity soon suggested plan My 'pckcr''--
piece Of straight wire with ring-cnd- hung
from one Of my breast buttons This took hold
Of and bent into the shape Of graphing hook
| had no cord, but my knife was still safe in its
sheath and, drawing this, / cut several thongs
from the skirt of my bucksin shirt, and knotted
them together until they formed string long
enough to reach the ground To one end attach
cd the picker; and then letting it down, com
menccd angling for the rope After few trans
verse drags, the hook caught the latter, and pull
led it up into the tree taking the whole Of it in
I'll 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
Just what wanted. 1t was my intention to lasso
the bull and for the purpose preceded to make
rur urning-noosc ON the end Of the trail rope This
executed with great care, and with all my skill.
could depend upon the rope; it was raw hide.
and better one was never twisted but ! knew
that if anything should chance to slip at the cri
cal moment it might cost me my life. With this
knowledge, therefore, | spced the eye and made
the knot as firm as possible, and then the loop was
rceved through and the thing was ready.
| could throw lasso tolcrably well, but the
branches prevented me from winding it. It was
necessary. therefore, to got the animal in q certain
position under the tree which by shouts and other
demonstrations at length succeeded in efecting
The moment Of success had arrived. lie stood
almost directly below me. The moose was shot
down. had the qualification to see it settle around
his neck. and with quick Jerk tghtcned it. The
rope ran beautifully through the eye, until both eye
and loop were buried beneath the shaggy hair Of
the animals neck 1t embraced his throat in the
right place. and felt confident it would hold him.
The moment the bull felt the jerk upon his throat
he dashed madly out from the tree and then com
my intention. the rope had slipped from my hands
at the first drag upon it. My position was rather
an unsteady 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
tcthercd, and it only remained for me to get out
beyond the length Of his tethcr, and take to my
heels Ny run lay on one side, near the tree where
had dropped it in my race this of course meant
to carry off with me, waited therefore, until the
ANIMAL in of his circles, had got round to the
opposite SIDE and then slipping down the trunk,
sprang out picked up my rife, and ran. | knew
the trail rope to be about twenty yards in length
but | ran hundred at least before making
halt ] had even thoughts Of continuing on, as |
still could not help some misgvings about the rope
The bull was one Of the largest and strongest had
ever seen. The rope might break, the knot upon
the tree might give way, or the moose might slip
over his head. Curiosity, however or rather de-
sire to be assured Of my safety prompted me to
look around, when to my Joy | beheld the huge
monster stretched upon the plain. could see the
rope, as tight as q bow-stling: and the tongue
protruding from the animals jaws Showed me
that he was strangling himself as fast as I could
desire
At the sight, the idea of buffalo tongue for sup
per returned with all its vgor and it now occurred
to me that | should eat that very tongue, and no
other | Immediately turned in my tracks ran
toward my powder and balls-which in cagcrness
to escape, had forgotten all about, seized the horn
and pouch, poured in a charge rammed down a
bullet, and then stealing nimbly up behind the still
struggling bull | placed the muzzle within three
feet of his brsket and fired. lie gave a death
kick two, and then lay quiet it was all over
with him.
| had the tongue from beneath his teeth in a
winkling and proceeding to the other bull, finish
ed the operations had commenced upon him.
was too tired to think Of carrying 4 very heavy
load so l contentod myself with the tongues, and
singing these the barrel Of my rifle. | shou-
Gered it. and commenced groping my way back to
camp. The moon had risen. and Had no difficult
ty in following my own trail; but before | had got
half way, | met several Of my companions. My
horse had GOT back little before sunset. His ap-
pcarancc had Of course produced alarm and half
the camp had turned out in search Of me. Seve-
raj who had Il relish for fresh meat. galloped back
to strip the TWO bulls Of the remaining titbts, but
before midnight all had returned and to accompa-
nmcnt Of the hump-ribs squirting in the cheerful
blaze, rccounted to my companions the details OF
my adventure.