Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-16
ADVENTURE WITH A BUFFALO.
BY FRONTIER TRAPPER.

was travelling with Bent's tain from
indie pc ndence to Santa Fe. One evening
after the wagons had carralted. and my
arimal had got some rest and bite OF
corn, leaped iHto the saddle. AMI ST out
10 see if could find something fresh for
my own supper. Ii was a rolling prairie.
the camp was soon hidden from my sight
--as it lay in hollow b@tween two
swells. Trusting TO the sky for my di-
rection. therefore. continued on. After
riding about mile / should think. can
upon buffalo signs. It was no, The first
time for me. and saw at glance that
the signs were fresh. There were sever
al wallows, and could tell BY the tracks
in the dust there had been nothing but
bulls in that quarter. A COW track would
have pleased me better. but after all. l
thought fresh bulls tongue for change
70 better than salt bacon; so 1 followed
the trail In hopes of getting one. Short
ly after. came to place where the
ground was Ploushed up as if a drove OF
hogs had been roofing it. Here there had
been a terrible fight among the bulls--it
was the rutting season. when such con.
Aicts occur. This argued we'll. Perhaps
there are cows in the neighborhood. rea-
soned (. as gave the spur to my horse,
and followed the trail with more spirit.
had ridden full five miles from camp.
when my attention was attracted by an
ohl noiss ahead Of me. There was a
ridge in front that prevented me from
seeing what produced the noise: but |
knew what it was--it was the bsllo wing
of buffalo bull. At intervals there
were quick shocks as if two hard substan-
ces were coming in violent contact with
each other. mounted the ridge with
caution, and looked over its crest. There
was a valley beyond; cloud Of dust was
rising out of its bottom. and in the midst
of this could distinguish two high
forms--dark and hirsute. Isaw a: once
that they were pair of buffalo bulls en-
gagged in fierce fight. They were alone;
there were no others in sight. either in
the valley or on the valley beyond.
did not halt longer than to see that
the cap was on my rifle, and II cock the
piece. Occupied as the animals were, ]
did not imagine they would heed me; or.
they should attempt flight. knew | could
easily overtake one or the other; so with
out furthe. hesitation or precaution. /
rode towards them. Contrary to my ex-
pectation. they both vinded me and start
ed off. The wind was blowing freshly
towards them. and the sun had thrown
nay shadow between them so as to draw
their attention. They did not run, how
ever, as il badly scared; on the contrary.
they went off apparently indignant at be-
ing disturbed in their fight. and every
now and then both came round with
short turnings. snorted. and struck the
prairie with their hoofs in violent and
angry manner. Once or twice. | iancied
they were going to charge upon me; and
had | been otherwise than we'll mounted,
] should have been chary of risking such
an encounter. A more formidable pair
of antagonists. as far as appearance went.
could not have been we'll c.aceived.-
Their huge size. their shaggy fronts and
fierce glsring eyeballs. gave them q wild
and malicious seeming. which was height
ened by their believing. and the threat
ening attitudes in which they placed
themselves.
Feeling quite safe in my saddle gal