Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-08-18
VOL. XXII.--N0. A.


instinct Of self-preservation.
All this happened in an instant. /
had hoped the maddened creature would
pursue my horse but not so-the buff
falo knows well who is his worst enemy
was fleet on foot, for | had run for
my life many times; but the tall grass
impeded my progress, and | knew |
could hold out but few moments.
! saw not the slightest chance for my
life Here was, upon this broad ocean
of prairie Bob was knew not where,
nor had time to look the grass tang
ling my feet, aud taking away my
strength, and wounded buffalo within
a few yards of me, and gaining upon
me at every bound.
! thought of my revolver, and that
would sell my life as dearly as possible.
| always carried it in my belt; and per-
haps could throw it over my shoulder
and shoot him in the eye. / had no
hope of the ball doing him any harm if
it hit him anywhere else; for these ami
mails have thick mass of hair on their
forehead, that is so matted together with
sand and dirt, that no ball from rife
will penetrate it, | knew if ball from
my revolver struck his forehead it would
have no more effect than the wild blow
ing against it.
| put my hand to my belt; but my
revolver was gone, the scabbard was
empty. 1t had probably fallen out when
was thrown from my horse
u,ith a F,al;nc &c
despair that | found it gone. 1t seemed
as if there was nothing but death before
me for how could hope to escape from,
or cope successfully with wounded
buffalo wounded, as ] knew, in no vital
part. but sufficiently to madden him.
l could hear more plainly his half
gEunt and half snort close upon my
heels--could feel his very breath upon
my back in another instant he would
be upon me--would pierce me with his
short, stumpy horns would grind me
TO the earth with his monster head, and
trample me beneath his feet ] indeed
felt that my time had come--that no
earthly power could save ne and in
stinctiyely breathed prayer to heaven.
Al that instnnt my feet became en-
tangled and fell the maddeued crea-
turc had Just touched me as | went down,
and vas under such terrible Roadway
that he passed directly over mo without
touching ne As his tail brushed over
my face | grasped it aud was dragged
to my feet, as the buffalo, stopping sud
denly, attempted to turn upon me. But
| had new lease Of my life | held
on to bis tail with n dcath-grasp, and
was dragged round and round.
You may smile, but the tail-hold was
my best hold now, but my only hope Of
life; and ! held on with grim deter
mination, while the bull wheeled round
and round, roared, snorted and paved
the ground in his terrible rage, but
could not shake me off
But what should / do now? ! knew
| could not hold to him long, as my
strength was nearly exhausted, having
run SO before fell
His wound was bleeding profusoly,
and my hope was that he might become
exhausted first but he seemed far from
that now, while seemed very near to
it. knew my strength could hold out
but little longer aud to let 90 was GER
tain death
The bull would suddenly take freak
and run and below, with all his might,
dragging me with velocity--thcn he
would stop, and with u terrible snort at
tempt to turn on me, and it was more
than could do, with my falling strength,
to keep out Of his way, and several times
his horns rent my clothing.
This state of things could not CON
tinue; | was growing weaker, and ] felt
my hold relaxing was jerked hithcr
and thithcr, 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 rife rang out upon the
air, and tho huge creature gave one
plunge, and fell upon his side in the
death-struggle.
| was safe, but it came not moment
too soon. ! too, fell to the ground
more dead than alive, The sequel is
soon told. 10 was Bob who had saved
me. He bad been more fortunate than
!, and after hard chase, had killed his
game, and then looked round for me-
The first thing he saw was my horse
without "a rider, and then discovered
me in the dist' nee clnging to the bulls
tail for dear life, and putting spurs to
his horse, he came to my assistance
II was some time before he could ven
ture to shoot, for fear Of hitting me, but
be finally succeeded in planting bali
directly in the animals breast.
Nothing else in the world will bring
That aane phaALlY exnresainn 10 a nnn'a