The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-02


several soldiers are after him. One rides
up, and with lucky shot brakes the old
fellows back, and dove he drops. A hard
pull for a minute or so brings up my horse
who has entered into the excitement, and l
ride back to the party, who have gathered
around the fallen foe, We wait until the
the wagon comes up, and then on we go
again after the still unconcious herd. The
wind blows briskly in our faces, and a roll
in the prairie hides us from their sight.
We top the hill and there they are, five
hundred yards in front, while their outlying
sentinels are still nearer. The one closest
gives snort and dives for the herd, and off
they go, tails up and heads down. With
one yell we break for them, and then its
"devil take the hindmost," The Major S
horse, like myself is, green, and on his first
buffalo hunt; he shys, pops his foot into a
dog-hole, and down he goes, rider and all.
l slack up enough to ask. care you
hulto" and hear, "Not bit: don't stop
for me- So on l go. Being best mount
ed and least knowing of the party, soon
outstrip the others, who take things more
/ coolly, and singing out bunch of seven
who separate from the herds, ego for
them with feet home in the stirrups, left
hand down to the pommel, and reins knot
ted short for better purchase. With my
right hand / draw a revelver-the rifle has
been left in the wagon as too clumsy-and
make for the outside bull When within
ten yeads cock my pistol, and bang bang
bang. go the bullets in the pursuit of life.
Click. The galloping of the horse shakes
me so that have fired every shot and only
scratched my beast. l say something,
naughty, ram the revolver into its case, and
draw its fellow, resolved to "do or die
Up comes the Sergeant. "You must
ride close up to them, sir, says he, as we
sweep along neck and neck, my horse pull
ing like steam engine ard snortiDg with
delight; "ride up close or you'll waste
every shot,
''Great guns amt ten yards close -
" Shall show you?" says he.
He rides slap up to the old fellow I'd
been wasting powder on. wates for mo-
ment, and then bowls him over with a sin
gle shot. Well done and, carried away
| by excitement. into them go, needless OF
his warning shout. Just then hear shot
to my left. We are going down the side OF
q sloping canon at a rafting pace. Sim
ultaneously with the shot comes a cry, and
turning in my saddle see at some distance
a man and horse rolling over in heap.
It's too late to stop for questions now; my
blood is up, so, wheeling round to the buff
falo, who is strainng along within three
yards of me, l press my horse up to him
and-thud. "That struck, by thunder ~
"Look out - screams the Sergeant, and
| quick as lightning the brute charges. My
horse, Old to the business, springs to one
| side almost unseating me. hold on like
grim death, and looking over my shoulder
find my old boy stretching away again af-
ter the others, who are by this time few
| yards in advance. His pace is 4 little slow
agian.'' l Shrek, perfectly beside myself
with the exhlarating joy of the moment
! He glares at me out of the corner of his
blood shot eye, my pistol is not Il foot from
his back, and-crack! right through his
spine and down he drops like lump OF
! clay. Not stated yet, on | press after the
flying prey, and with the first shot break a
/ leg; another charge, followed by two quick
/ reports in quick succession, and there he
I lies prone and Sasping on the turf. One
more shot in mercy and my loads are gone.
spring from my horse, turn his head
spong out his painting nostrils with a we,
! handkerchief, loosen his girth, and throw
! the reins into the hand of the Sergeant
who rides mp saying, You did splendidly
sir, and my first buffalo hunt is over.
Isn't it strange how the brute instinct
and the human mingle? Here l had been
chasing that poor devil for twenty minutes
| intent on taking his life, and now that h
was dead, couldn't help saying, I'm
almost sorry killed you, my boy, but, by
George, lid it without any help, and nj
man can raise questions as to who was
your muI. ,crer."
By this time the stragglers were all call
ed in an1 The Plain was strewn with car
casses o: slaughtered buffalo. Being /;
novice, | ,,ls voted the hero of the hour
and my Lease was decked with the tail anC
beard Of my first buffalo.
On r'l',g back we found that the man
who tumhled to my left had acdidentl.
shot his .,orso through the brain, killing
him instantly, but tha- he had himself es
capped with few bruises. | was delighted
to find him unhurt, for my conscience twit
ted me fu. leaving what might have been
dying man
Next in order came the cutting up, ther
the triumphant return home. exhausted
bodily, but awfully proud.