, 1861-07-25
A Daring Hunter.

] once hunted for three months in company
with hunter well known in California. In idea,
he was wild and imaginative in the extreme; the
most cool and philosophic fellow l ever knew.
A cOmmercianto, or merchant, at San Francisco,
on whose varacity know from experience can
depend, told inc the following story Of this man,
which will at once illustrate his general charac-
ter. This hunter was, some months before had
fallen in with him, making the best Of his way
down the valley Of the Tule Lakes from the in
terror, with heavy pack Of furs on his back,
his never-erring rifle in his hand, and his two
dogs by his side. lie was Joined at the northern
most end Of the valley by the merchant have
spoken Of, who was armed only with his sword
and pistols. They had scarcely cleared the val
lev when party Of robbers galloped out before
them, There were four whites fully armed, and
two Indians with their laSsos coiled up in their
right hands, ready for "throw."
The hnnter told the merchant, who was on
horseback, to dismount instantly, sand to cover.
Fortunately for them, there was good deal oi
thcket, and trunks Of large trees that had fallen,
were strewed about in a very desirable manner.
Behind these logs the merchant and the hunter
quickly took up their position, and as they were
IN the act of doing so, two or three shots were
\ fired after them without eject The hunter cOoly
united the pack of furs from his back and laid
them beside him. ats my opinion, merchant
said he "tLat them varmnts there wants ther
your saddle bags or my pack, but ! reckon they'll
get neither" So he took up his rifle, fired, and
the foremost Indian lasso in hand, rolled off his
horse. Another discharge from the rifle and the
second Indian fell, while in the act Of throwing
the lasso at the head and shoulders of the hun
ter, as he raised himself from behind the log 70
fire. "Now," said the hunter, as he reloaded,
lying fat on his back to avoid the shots Of the
robbers, that's what call the best Of the scrim-
mage, to get them brown thieves with their las
SOS out Of the way first. See them rascally
whites now jumping over the logs to charge US
in our cover"
They were fast advancing, when the rifle again
spoke out, and the foremost fell; they still came
on to within thirty yards, another fell, and the
remaining two made desperate charge up close
to the log The hunter, from long practice, was
dexterous 10 loading his gun. "Now, merchant"
said he " is the tune for your pop guns" mean
| ing the pistols, sand don't be at all nervous.
1 Keep steady hand and drop either man or
horse. A man Of them shan't escape" The
two remaining robbers were up with the log,
and fired each pistol shot at the hunter, which
he escaped by dodging behind tree close by,
from which he fired with effect As only one
robbcr was left, he wheeled round his horse,
with the intention Of galloping of, when the
| pistol outlets OF tue ucrClluHt SuOt tue uotSe
| from under him "Wcll done, merchant" said
the hunter, "you'vc stopped that fellows gallop"
AS soon as the rObbcr could dsentanele himself
| from the fallen horse, he took to his heels and
ran down sloPing ground as East as he could.
The hunter drew his tomahawk from his belt,
and gave chase after him. As he was more Of
an equestrian than pedestrian, the nimbleness
Of the hunter shortened the distance between
| them, and the last Of the robbers fell.
Thus persisted this dangerous gang Of six, by
| the single hand Of this brave hunter, and as the
commensurate" informed me, he acted as Coolly
aud deliberately as il he were shooting taIne bul
I locks for the market. The affair was rather ad.
venturous to tho hunter, for on searching the
saddle-bags and pockets Of the robbers, hepulled
forth some douboons, and few dollars, with
other yaluablcs they had, no Doubt, short time
! previously taken from travellers. Tho saddle
| bags, arms and accoutrements Of the four white
men were packed up, and made fast on the sad
dies Of two horses, the hunter mounted third,
the merchant mounted another, his horse being
shot, and thus they left the scene Of action-
| leaving the bodies Of the robbers TO the wolves,
which were bowling about them, and entered
San Francisco in triumph