The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-01-06
dirt, that no ball from a rifle will pene-
trate it. / knew if ball from my re-
volver struck his forehead, it would have
no more effect than the wind blowing


trate IL. l. Knew II q Dali from my re-
| volver struck his forehead, it would have
no more effect than the wind blowing
against it.
/ put my hand to my belt; but my re
volver was gone, the scabbard was emp
ty. 1t had probably fallen out when I
was thrown from my horse
1t was with feeling somewhat of
despair that found it gone. I seemed
as if there was nothing but death before
me; for how could [ hope to escape
| from, or cope successfully with "a wound
ed buffalo-wounded, as knew, in no
vital part, but sufficiently to madden
him.
1 could hear more plainly his half
grunt and half snort close upon my
heels-and could feel his breath upon
my back-in another instance he would
be upon me-would pierce me with his
short, stumpy horns-would grind me
to the earth with his monster head, and
| tranpIe me beneath his feet. I indeed
| felt that my time had come-that no
earthly power could save me and in
stinctively [ breathed prayer to heaven.
At that instant my feet became en-
tangled, and fell the maddened crea-
ture had just touched me as went down,
and was under such terrible headway
that he passed directly over me without
touching me. AS his tail brushed over
my face I grasped it, and was dragged
to my feet, as the buffalo, stopping sud
denly, attempted to turn upon me. But
I had a new lease of my life. I held on
to his tail with death grasp, and was
dragged round and round.
You may smile, dear reader, but the
tail-hold was my best hold now, and my
only hope of life; and held on with a
grim determination, while the bull
wheeled rapidly round and round, ,roared,
snuffed, snorted, and paved the ground
in his terrible rage, but could not shake
me off.
But what should do now? L knew I
could not hold on to him long, as my
strength was nearly exhausted, having
run SO far before 1 fell. I had nothing
F, to kill him with-not even pen-knife.
His wound was bleeding profusely,
and my hope was that he might become
exhausted first; but he seemed far from
that now, while seemed very near to it.
I knew my strength could hold out but
little longer /; and to let go was certain
death. The bull would suddenly take a
freak, and run and below with all his
might, dragging me with velocity-then
he would stop, and with terrific snort
attemp to turn. on me, and it was more
than could do with my failing strength
to keep out of his way, and several times
his horns rent my clothing.
This state of things could not contin-
ne I was growing weaker, and felt my
hold relaxing. was jerked hither and
thither, my arms nearly pulled from
their sockets-worried almost to death,
| and about to lose my hold-when, as the
mad creature paused an instant, the
sharp crack of a rifle rang out upon the
air, and the huge creature gave one
plunge, and fell upon his side in the
d death-struggle.
/ was safe, but it came not a moment
too soon. I, too, fell to the ground,
more dead than alive. The sequel is
soon told It was Bob who had saved
me. He had been more fortunate than
I, and after hard chase, had killed his
game, and then looked round for me.
The first thing he saw was my horse
without rider, and then he discovered
me in the distance clinging to the bulls
tail for dear life and putting spurs to
his horse, he came to my assistance. It
was some time before he could venture
to shoot, for fear of hitting me but he
finally succeeded in planting ball di-
rectly in the animals breast.
After resting, capturing my horse,
and securing my revolver, which easily
found where fell from the horse, we
sat down to smoke and relate our ad-
ventures.