Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-11-22


IN leit hand and rife in right. on l 60, !
nniil within twenty yards Of him, When
Ehang! goes the Remington. Nobody
hurt "IlOw can manage the piaru, V |
ihing1" is my next thought, while [ try
to load, not stopping to see where I'm go
ing At last it's all right, and turn for
ahother shot, when find to my astonish-
ment that the buffalo has edged off hup-
dred yards, and that several soldiers are
after him. One rides up, and with a
lucky shot breaks the old fellows back,
and down he drops. A hard pull for
minute or so brings up my horse, who has
entered into the excitement. and | ride
back TO the party, who have gathered
around the fallen foe. We wait until the
wagon comes up, aud then on We 40 again
after the still unconscious herd. The wind
blows briskly in ou faces, and a roll in
the prairie hides us from their sight.
We top the knoll, and there they are.
Eve hundred yards in front, while their
outlying sentiuels are still nearer. The
one closest gives a snort and dives for the
herd, and off they 60, tails up aud heads
down. With one yell we break for them,
and then its "devil take the hindmost." :"
The Majors horse, like myself, is green,
and on his first buffalo hunt; so he shys,
pops his foot into dog hole, aud down
he goes, rider and all. | slack up enough
to ask Are you hurt2' aud hear "Not a
bit don't stop for me-" So on 90. Be-
ing best mounted and least knowing of the
party, soon outstrip the others, who
take things more cody, and singing out
bunch Of seven who separate from the
herds, "go for them" with feet home in
the stirrups, left hand down to the pom
mel, and reins knotted short for better
purchase. With my right hand l draw
revolver-the rifle has been left in the
wagon as to clumsy-and make for the
outside bull. When within ten yards |
cock my pistol, and bang! bang! bang
go the bullets in their pursuit of life.
Click The galloping of the horse shakes
me so that | have fired every shot and
only scratched my beast. l say some
thing naughty, ram the revolver back into
its case, and draw its fellow, resolved to
do or de-"
Up comes the Sergeant on light sorre
mare built for going, and with lots of grit.
"Y ou must ride up close to them, sir,
says he, as we sweep along neck and
neck, my horse pulling like a steam en-
gne and snorting with delight; ride up
close or you'll waste every shot"
"Great Lord amt ten yards close p
Shall show you p says he.
Wade in,' replied.
He rides slap up to the old fellow I'd
been wasting powder on, waits for mo-
ment, and then bowls him over with q
single shot. Well done Wake up snakes !!
Whoop and, carried away by excitement,
right into them | go, needless of his warn
ing shout. Just then hear shot to my
left. We are going down the side of a
sloping canon at a rattling pace. Simu.
ltaneously with the shot comes the cry,
and turning in my saddle | see at some
distance man and horse rolling over in
a heap. It's too late to stop for questions
now my blood is up, and | wouldn't stop
if the President were down; besides, its
one of the privates, and don't know
him so, wheeling round to the buffalo,
who is straiuing along within three yards
of me, press my horse up TO him and
thud. That struck, by thundern 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, however, and looking ever my
shoulder find my old boy stretching away
again after the others, who are by this
time few yards in advance. His pace
is little slower, and he sobs at each
jump. AT him again! !! | shrek, perfect.
| ly beside myself with the exhilarating Joy
Of the moment. He glares at me out OF
the corner of his blood-stot eye, my pistol
is not foot from his bhck, and-crack
right through the spine and down he drops
like lump of clay. Not seated yet, on
| press after the flying prey, and with
the FIRST shot break fore leg; another
charge, followed by two reports in quick
succession, and there he lies prone and
gasping on the turf. One more shot II
mercy and my loads are gone.
spring from my horse, turn his head
sponge out his painting nostrils with wei
handkerchief, loosen his girth, and throw
the reins into the hand Of the Sergeant,
who rides up saying, You did splendidly
sir, and my first buffalo hunt is over.
| totter back to my second quarry
throw myself alongside him. my chest
heaving like the Newport surf, and begin
dreamily to review the affair, and wish
So-and-so had been along to enjoy tht
sport.
Isu't it strange how the brute instinct
and the human minglef Here | hat
been chasing that poor devil for twenty
minutes, intent on taking his life, and nov
that he was dead | couldn't help saying
I'm almost sorry | killed you, old boy
but by George, | did it without any
help, and no man can raise question as t.
who was your murderer
Bythis time the stragglers were al
called in and the Plain was strewed witt
carcasses Of slaughtered buffalo.
Being the novice, | was voted the here
of the hour, and my horse was decked
with the tail and beard Of my first buffalo
On riding back we found that the mar
who had tumbled to my left had shot hi
horse through the brain, killing him 10
| atantlv hut he had himealf escsped witl