The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-10-17

between us not two wide for long rife shot
and dismounting went to the summit Of thu
hill One OF the bulls had lain down, his bach
turned toward me, and so no good shot was pos
sible; and the other was just over the farther
slope Of the hill, kicking up his heels in the air
and crushing to pulp the flies that tormented
him. There was no alternative but to ride tc
the next hill quarter of a mile beyond Foi
two or three minutes horse and rider were in
full sight il they had turned their heads to see
but they did not and in an instant more we
were hidden by the hill Here | dismounted
again, united the lariat from the saddle-bow,
leaving il to trail under the horses feet that il
might keep him in the valley and then hastened
TO the top of the hill. The bulls were still
there, the further one quietly feeding. A long
marsh lay between us empty of water except in
the spring, but at all seasons full of long thick
grass, breast high, and the whole oval fringed
with golden rim of heliaEthus--the flowers
growing rarer as on the slope of the hills the
color of the grass was changed to a lighter
green; and here and there, in the circle stood
clumps Of shrubbery like sentinels guarding the
tombs of departed water-nymphs.
My weapon was the same Maynard rife spo-
ken of before, which man may load and fire a
dozen times in minute If he be quick at taking
aim, and not likely to be made nervous by ex-
citement or danger. I put halfdozcn cart
ridges in my hand, and set the primer, which
pays out tape caps as fast as the rife is cooked
and began the approach. might have fired at
once upon the recumbent bull--the distance was
not more than hundred and fifty yards-but
except concealed, could not hope to get the
other bull, who would come to the top of the
hill TO rcconnoitre, and, seeing me, perhaps get
away without presenting mark for fatal shot.
So crouching below the level Of the tips of the
gra s, where il was high enough, or running
stcaltlnly from clump to clump of shrubbery
large enough TO keep head and shoulders out of
sight, in quarter Of an hour had got within
twenty yards of the nearest bull--thc one lying
down--and was barely concealed behind clump
Of dccayed poplar shrubs. The other bull was
hid behind the swell of the hill The wind,
ought to have said was blowing in a course at
right angles TO my approach, or one had never
got so near; and had their strong odor come be-
tween the wind and my nostrls | might have
taken longer range One instant devoted to
steady hand and to a synopsis of the chances of
pursuit and the means of escape, and then I
fired, aiming at his heart just back of the fore
shoulder. Swift upon the crack of the rife,
hardly ,listnguishrblc from it save by quick
~ Ia, hill h.
hit the mark, and then, before the bull could
rise to his feet, the red blood showed that it had
hit fatal spot. dropped in the grass behind
the bush instantly. The shot bull rose to his
feet slowly and painfully, and looked in every
direction but the right one to see where the
blow had come from. Michele the halfbreed
mounted, and now standing on the summit of
the distant hill, drew his gaze for a moment,
and then he turned TO escape by way of the
marsh had crossed, and in turning, saw me-
Too weak to attack, he turned still again to es-
cape frsm the nearest danger-slowly, deliber-
ately, and with evident pain-too much hurt to
run. As he turned | took quick aim, fired
and hit him Just over the kidneys, in the hope
of breaking his back. The monster stopped,
shook his shaggy manc that hung, black and
curling, from his jaw to his knees, walked on a
few steps, and could go no further His vast
bulk heaved with the tremors of approaching
death; but could watch him no longer while
uncertain what the bull just over the hill might
be doing. fastening up the slope, l caught
sight Of him standing and apparently, gazing at
the distress of his companion. lie mad not taken
to flight; for it is popularity of this sagacious
animal that, till they know from what quarter
danger comes, they will not run, but only hud-
die together, when in herds, perhaps the bulls
circling about the cows and calves, and two or
three of the older and larger bulls going to some
elevated point to discover the direction of dan
ger. When only two or three are together, or
when single bull is fired upon from a concealed
position, they will hardly move dozen yards
till they know in which direction it is safest to
run. As this bull stood there, partly turned
from me, hump, horns, and part of the shoul-
ders visible, and ears and head erect, fred
aiming as low on his side as possible yet clear
ing the top of the hill. Spat l-came back the
sound of the bullet as it hit the creatures side
quicker than the echo of the rifle from the near
est hills, and then the huge ugh" as it tore its
way through his muscles and lungs. loaded
instantly and, doing so, caught seconds
glimpse Of the first bull down on his knees and
just turning over. As if to revenge the fall of
his companion, or by some quick instinct the
second one galloped toward the top of the hill
not thirty yards from me-swept his lion-like
head around to the spot where l stood-for con-
cealment was no longer possible-gazed an in
slant with his large, dark, ox-like eyes, flashing
fire now, and then rushed headlong down the
slope, hoEns low, full upon me. The quick rife
saved my life, Before he had made a dozen
leaps, or was within dozen yards ofme it sent
bullet straight between his eyes into the huge
mat of black and curling hair that covered his
skull, The pullet would have leaped thousand
yards of empty air quicker than leaf falls; but
as for killing him, it might as well have struck
rock. 1t staggered him though, and as say,
saved my life; for I could not have loaded again
before he wonld have had me on his horns, do
the best ] might lie turned in his course, as
if a little dizzy, and not certain Of his sight !;
rushed by with leaps that shook the ground
not yard from my side-but soon stopped,
] l.. -. II