Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-04-08


were distant; this one was not twenty yard
from the carcass. l led my horse up to it
and taking the trail rope from the horn o
the saddle, made one end fast to the bit-ring
and the other to the tree. then went back
drew my knife, and proceeded to cut thf
buffalo.
I had hardly wetted my blade, when
noise from behind caused me leap to an up
right attitude, and look around; at the frs
glance, 1 comprehended all. A huge dark
object was passing the crest of the ridge
and rushing down the hill towards the spot
where I stood. 1t was the buhalo-bull, the
same that had just left me. The sight, at
first though rather pleased me than otherwise
Although I did not want any more meat, ]
should have the triumph of carrying two
tongues instead Of one to the camp. there.
fore hurriedly sheathed my knife, and laid
hold of my rife, which, according to custom,
I had taken the precaution to reload. |
hesitated moment whether to run to my
horse and mount him, or to fire from where
I stood that question, however, was settled
by the buffalo. The reeand the horse were
to one side of the direction in which he was
running, but being attracted by the loud
snorting of the latter, which had begun to
pitch and plunge violently, and deeming ii
perhaps challenge he suddenly swerved his
course, and ran full tilt upon the horse. The
latter shot out instantly to the full length Of
the trail-rope-a heavy spluck" sounded in
my ears, and the next instant l saw my horse
part from the tree, and scour off over the
prairie, as if there had been thistle under
his tall I had knotted the rope negligently
upon the bit-ring, and the knot had come
uudone.
I was chagrined, but not alarmed as yet.
My horse would no doubt follow back his own
trail, and at the worst I should only have to
walk to the camp. I should have the salts.
faction of furnishing the buffalo for the trick
he had served me; and with this design,
turned towards nim. I saw that he had not
followed the horse but was again heading
himself in my direction. Now, for the first
time, it occurred to me that | was in some
thing of scrape. The bull was coming fu-
riously on. Should my shot miss, or even
should 1t only wound him, how was I to es-
cape? I knew that he could overtake me
in three minutes stretch; knew that we'll.
had not much time for refection--pot a
moment in fact; the infuriated animal was
within ten PAGES of me; raised my rifle,
aimed at his four shoulder, and fired. saw
that I 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. My pistols had
gone off with my horse and holsters. Even
to reach the tree was impossible; the bull
was between it and me. Right in the oppo.
site direction was the only thing that held
out the prospect of five minutes safety;
turned aud ran. can run as fast as most
men; and upon that occasion did my best
1t would have put "Gildersleve" into white
sweat TO have distaDced me; but I had moi
been two minutes at it, when I felt conscious
that the buffalo gained upon me, and was al
most treading upon my heels. [ knew ii
only by my ears--I dared Tot spare time tc
look back.
At this moment, an object appeared before
me, that promised, one way or other, to in
terrupt the chase; it was ditch or gully.
that intersected my path at right angles. II
was several feet in depth, dry at the bottom,
and with perpendicular sides, I was almost
upon its edge before I noticed it, but the
moment it came under my eye, saw that il
offered the means of temporary safety al
least If I could only leap this gully, fell
satisfied that the buffalo could not. 1t was
a sharp leap--at least seventeen feet from
cheek to cheek; but I had done more thar
that in my time; and, without halting in
my gait, 1 ran forward to the edge, and
sprang over I alighted clcverly upon the
opposite bank, where I stopped, and turnec
round to watch my pursuer I now ascer
tanned how near my end had been; the bul
was already up to the gully. Had no
made my leap at the instant I did, I should
have been, by that time dancing upon hi'
horns. He himself had baked at the leap;
the deep chasm-like cleft had cowcd him.
He saw that he could not clear it; and nov
stood upon the opposite bank with head low
cred, and spread nostrils, his tail lashing hi:
smooth fanks, while his glaring black eye'
expressed the full measure of his bafflcc
rage. I remarked that my shot had taker
effect in his shoulder, as the blood tricklec
from his long hair. I had almost begun tt
congratulate myself on having escaped, wher
hurried glance to the right, and another t
the left, cut short my happiness. I saw tina
on both sides at distance of less than fft,
PAGES, the gully Swallowed outinto the plain
where itended at either end twas, of course
passable. The bull observed this almost a
the same time as myself; and suddenly turn
ing away from the brink. he ran along tn
edge of the chasm, evidently with the in
tention of turning it. In less than min
ute's time we were once more on the SAM
side, and my situation appeared as terrible a
ever; but stepping back for short run,
leaped the chasm, and again we stood on op
posite sides.
During all these maneuvres l had hell
on to my rife; and seeing now that l nigh