Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-12-15

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from cheek to cheek-but had done more
than that in my time, and without halting fin
nv gait, ran forward to the edge and spranS
over. / alighted clev verly upon the opposite
bank, and stopped and turned round to watch
nv pursuer. | now ascertained how near my
end 1 had been the buffalo already up to
the verge of the gulley. Had not made my
leap at the instant, 1 should have been by that
time dancing upon his horns. He himself
had balked in the leap; the deep and chasm
like cleft had cowed him. He saw that he
could not clear it, and now stood up on the op-
posite bank with head lowered, and spread
nostrls, his tail lashing his brown fanks, while
his glaring black eyes expressed the full meas
ure of his baffied rage.
/ remarked that my shot had taken effect
upon his shoulder, as the blood trickled from
his long hair.
/ had almost begun to congratulate myself
on having escaped, when a hurried glance to
the right, and another to the left cut short my
happiness. / saw on both sides, at distance
of less than fifty PAGES, the gulley Swallowed
out into the plain where it ended, and either
end of it was, of course, passable. The buf-
falo observed this almost at the same time as
myself. and, suddenly turning away from the
brink, he ran along the edge of the chasm, evil
IDENTITY with the intention of turning it.
In less than minutes time were once
more on the same side, and my situation ap
peared as terrible as ever; but, stepping back
for short run, | releaped the chasm and a.
gain we stood on opposite sides of the gully.
During all this time had held on to my
rife; and seeing now that might have time
TO load it, | commenced feeling for my powder
horn. To my astoniShmeut | 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 was gone! l remembered lift
ing them over my head, when L set about cut
ting up the dead buffalo. They were lying by
the carcass.
This discovery was new source of chagrin;
but for my negligence, could now have mas
tered my antagonist.
To reach the ammunition would be impossi-
bic I should be overtaken before getting half
way to it. / was not allowed much time to in
dulge in my regrets; the buffalo had again
turned the ditch, and was once more upon the
same side with me.
took tree, however, and SpIang up it like
a mountebank but the hot breath of the buff
falo steamed after me as L assembled, and the
conclusion of his heavy skull against the
trunk of the tree almost shook me back upon
his horns.
After severe effort of climbing, succeed
+ ed. in lodging myself among the branches.
was now safe from all Immediate danger, but
how was the affair to end 2
knew, from the experience of others, that
my enemy might stay for hours by the tree
perhaps for days!
it long. / had already hungered, but worse
appetite began to torture me-thirst. The
hot sun, the dust, the violent exercise of the
pas! hour, all contributed to make me thirsty.
Even then would l have risked life for drink
of water. What would it come too, should re-
lief not come?
| remained for long time busted with these
gloomy thoughts and fore-bodings. Night
was approaching, but the fierce and obstinate
brute exhibited no disposition to raise the
siege. He remained watchful as ever, walk
ing round and round at intervals; lashing his
tail and believing.
Good luck There was rope left by some
hunter, attached to the trunk of the tree. The
first step was to get possession of it. This
was not such an easy matter. The rope was
fastened TO the tree, but the knot had slipped
down the trunk and lay npon the ground. L
dared not de.Send for it. Necessity soon sug-
geSted plan.
a ring end-hung from one OF my breast but
TONS This l took hold Of and bent into the
shape of a graphing hook. L had no cord,
but my knife was still in its sheath; and draw
| ing this, cut several thongs from the skirt of
my buckskin shirt, and knoted them together
till they formed string long enough to reach
the ground. To one end l attached the picker
and then letting it down, caught the loose end
| of the rope.
| l could depend upon it; it was raw hide,
| and better never was twisted; but knew that if
| anything should chance to slip at critical
moment, it might cost me my life. With this
! knowledge, therefore, spliced it for lasso
| with all the pains-taking that man, whose life
was actually son the cast might be supposed
| to bestow on his last resource, the efficiency
of which could be increased or leSsened by
| his own act.
Everything being ready, my next difficulty
was to fix myself in such a position that
1 yEh ri If he
some hopes of casting it over the buffalo's
neck, and still at the same time not so far COM
| promise my own safety as, in case OF an unsuc-
cessful cast, to be in reach of the enTaged ami
! NAL, who would now most surely defeat me in
| any contest involving a trial of speed Tor my
long continued and cramped position astride
| the cottonwood limb l was perfectly aware,
| prevented any hope of success by that mode
| of escape.
| Soon made clear place from which to
! whirl nv lasso, and clambered out on the pro-
| jecting limb as far as it was prudent to do SO,
| considering that my stand point must be hrm
and secure, and having attained position
| deemed most favorable, under the crcum-
stances, | in turn became the watcher, and
never did grimalkin fix her keen eyes more
| wariIy upon the doomed mouse than did keep
a sharp watch upon every move and turn ol
| the enIaged beast who was believing below me
At length, wearying of my position, night
| coming on apace, and being both hungry and
parched with thirst, determined to make the
attempt, which, if successful, would free me
from my enemy, or if it failed would entail a
fate no worse than death from starvation, from
cold, or thirst, from all united:
Gathering the rope carefully in my lap as
sat astride the limb, coiled it up in rings
held loosely in my left Hand; and pulling hard
upon the other end, was cheered by the con-
yiction that it was~secure around the trunk
| in tas had