Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-12-15
ADVENTURE WITH A BUFFALO.
BY CAPTAIN MAYyE REID.

By CAPTAIN M4YSE REID.
We were near the Arkansas river on hunt
For several days We had been unsuccessful.
One evening, after we had camped AS usual,
and my brave horse had eaten his ''bte'' OF
corn, leaped into the saddle, and rode off in
hopes of finding something fresh for supper.
The prairie where We halted was rolling one,
and as the camp had been fixed on a small
stream, between two great SweliS, 1t was not
visible at any great distance. As soon there
fore rs l had crossed of the ridges, was
out of sight of my companions. Trusting to
the sky for my direction, continued on
After riding about mile, l should think, L
came upon buffalo sssign,' consisting of sew
eral circular holes in the ground, five or SIX
feet in diameter, known as buffalo s'wallows.'
l saw at glance that the sign was fresh.
There were several wallows and L could tell
by the tracks in the dust, there had been buf-
faIos in that quarter. So | continued on III
hopes OF getting sight OF the animals that
had been wailowing.
had ridden full five miles from camp, when
nv attention was attracted by an odd noise a.
head of me. There was ridge in front that
prevented me from seeing what produced the
noise; but knew what il was-it was the bel
lowing of buffalo.
At intervals there were quick shocks, as of
two hard substances coming in violent contact
with esch other.
mounted the ridge with caution, and looked
over its crest. There q valley beyond a
cloud of dust was rising out of its bottom, and
ia the midst of this L could distinguish two
huge forms, dark and hirsute.
1 saw at once they were couple of bufialos,
engaged in a fierce fight. They were alone;
no others were in sight, either in the valley or
on the prairie beyond.
did not halt longer than to see that the cap
WAS on my rife and to cock the piece. Oc-
cupied as the animals were, did not imagine
they would heed me or, if they should attempt
fight, knew | could easily oyertake one or
the other, so without farther hesitation or pre-
caution, rode toward them.
Contrary to my expectation, they both 'swin-
ded'' me, and started off. The wind was blow
ing freshly toward them, and the sun had
thrown my shadow between them SO as to draw
their attention.
They did not run, however, as II badly
scared on the contrary, they went off appa-
renty indignant at being disturbed in their
fight; and every now ond then both came
foiiuu viii: sacrt tn-nings, snorted, and struck
the prairie with their hoofs in violent and
angry manner.
Once or twice, fancicd they were going to
charge upon me /; and had | been otherwise
than we'll mounted, l should have been chary
of risking such an encounter. more formI-
dable pair of antagonists, as far as appearance
went, could not well have been conceived.
Their huge size their shaggy fronts, and fierce
= glaring eyc-balls gave them a wild and mali
cious seeming, which was heightened by their
believing, and the threatening attitudes in
which they continually placed themselves.
Feeling quite safe in my saddle, galloped
up to the nearest, and sent my bullet into his
ribs 1t did the work. He fell to his knees
rose again-spread out his legs as if TO prevent
q second fall-rocked from side to side like a
cradle-again he came to his knees, and after
remaining in this position for some minutes,
with the blood running from his nostrils, rolled
over on his shoulder and lay dead.
had watched these maneuvers with inter-
est, and permitted the second one to make his
escape; single glance had shown me the lat
ter disappearing over the crest of the swell.
/ did not care to follow him, as my horse
was faded, and knew it would cost me sharp
gallop to come up with him again so thought
no more of him at the time, but alighted, and
prepared to deal with the one already slain
While cutting him up, my horse broke his
tether and secured away. At the same mo-
ment, the other buffalo came back full drive
at me-
Now, for the first time, it occurred to me
that was IN something of a scrape. The buf'
faio was coming furiously on. L had fortun'
ately reloaded my rife. Should my shot miss
or even should it only wound him, how was
to escape ! knew that he could overtake
me in three minutes stretch-I knew that
well.
had not much time for refection-not a
moment, in fact; the infu-iated animal was
within ten PAGES of me, raised my rifle.
aimed at his foreshoulder and fired.
saw that had hit him, but to my dismay
he neither fell nor stumbled, but continued to
charge forward more furiously than ever.
To reload was impossible. Ny pistols had
gone of with my horse and holsters. Even to
reach the tree was impossible the buffalo was
between it and me. s
To make off in the opposite direction wa:
the only thing that held out the prospect OF
i've minutes safety; turned and ran. The
buffalo came after me.
AT this moment an object appeared before
me, that promised, one way or another, 10 In
teFrnpt the chase; it was q ditch or guiiey
mat lntersected my path at right angles{ IL
was several feet in depth, dry at the bottom.
and with perpendicular sides.
was almost upon its edge before / noticed
II, but the moment 1t came under my eye,
saw that it offered the means of temporary
safety at least. II could only leap this gull
ley was satisfied, for knew that the buffalo
could not.