The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-06
A BUFFALO STAMPEDE.

Passing out between tho hills, the
young fellows found themselves OIL a
nearly level plain. Here, too, was n
dense throng OF buflaloes, stretching of
to tho updulating horizon. As the two
explorers walked on, wide lane seemed
to open in the mighty herds before
them. Ipsensibly, and without my
hurry, the creatures driited away to the
right and left, browsing or staring, but
continually moving. Looking back,
they saw that the buGtaloes had closed
up their ranks on the trail which they
Ind, just pursued; while before, and on
either hand, was wall Of animals.
1--WE are surrounded |" almost whis.
pcred Arthur, with somo alarm.
"Never mind, my boy. We can walk
out, Just as the children of Isracl did
from the Red sea. Only wo have waves
OF builillocs, instead OF water, to close
behind and open before and be wall
OH each side. See |"
And, rs they kept on, tho mass before
them melted away in some mysterious
fashion, always at the same distance
IRON them.
"Secl We move in a vacant space
That travels with us wherever we go,
Arty.'
"Ycs," sail tho lad. "It seems Just
nsit VIZ were candle in tho dark. The
open ground around IFS is the light we
shed; the bnt'alocs arG tho darkness out
side"
"Agool figure Of speech, thnt, my
hddio. I must remember it. But We
are getting out of tho wilderness.
They hail now comr TO sharp rise
of ground, broken by rocky ledge,
which turned the h-rds more to the
northward. Ascending this, they were
ont Of the bullalOes for tho time, but
beyond them were thousands more.
Turning southwark they struck across
tho country for tho wagon track, quite
we'll satisfied with their explorations.
Betwcen Two long divides, or ridges,
they camo upon single wagon, canvas
covered. in which wero two little chill
lren. Two boys-one about seven and
tho other eleven years old-were playing
Icar by, and four oxcu were grazing by
spring.
In reply to Mont's surprised question
as to how they came on the trail, and
why they wero hero alone, they said
TINT their father and uncle had come up
after bufr;lces, and wero out with their
guns. Their mother was over on the
b!uir-pointing to n little rocky mass
which rosc like M island in the middle
OF the valley. Sho Ind gone TO hunt
for "sarvico berries" They werc left
TO mind the cattle and the children.
,"pretty careless business, | should
say" murn,urcd Mont, "WcIl, young
sters, he added. "keep by tho wagon;
il your cattle stray of, they may get
carried nwsy by the bu(lalocs. Mind
thRti"
They went on down the valley, look
lug behind them at The helpless little
family alone in the wilderness.
"a man ought to be licked for leav'
ing his young onos here in such lonely
place," said N1out.
Suddenly, over the southern wall OF
tifr valley. like thunder cloud, rose n
vast anil fleeing herd of buGaloes. They
wCrn not only running, they were rush.
ing like mighty flood.
"A stampede! stampede !" cried
Mont; aud, flying back to tho uncon-
aaious group OF children, followed by
Arthur, ha said: "Run for your lives.
Youngsters Mako for tho bluff"
Seiziug one Of the little ones, aud
bidding Arthur tako the other, he start
I'd the boys ahead for the island blufl,
which was some way down the valley.
There was not q moment to lose. Be-
hind them, like n rising tide, flowed tho
huffalors in siirges. A confused mnr.
mnr filed Tho air; tho ground resound-
cd With the hurried beat OF countless
hoofs. and the earth seemed to be disap-
pcaring in tho advancing torrent. Close
behind tho flying fugitiyes the angry,
pauic stricken herd tumH y and tossed.
Its labnrrd breathing sighed like Il
hroezs, and tho warmth fits pulsations
seemed to stinc the air.
"To the left to the left!" screamed
Arthur, seeing the hcwildored boys,
who fled like deer, making directly for
the steepest part Of tho bluff. Thus
warned, tIlt lltlS uOuulOu up tIAN 4tt"
island, grlsping tho underbrush rs they
cliubcd. Hard behind them came
Arty. 'palc, his features drawn andrigid,
and bearing in his arms n little girl.
Mont brought up the rear with stout
boy on his shoulder, and breathlcss with
excitement and the Iaborious run.
Up the steep side they scrambled,
falling and recovering themselves, but
ND at last. Secure on baro rock, they
saw heaying tide OF wild creatures
pour tumultuously over the edge and
i'll tho valley. It leaped from ledge to
ledge, tumbled and broke, rallied again
and swept on, black and silent save for
the rumbliug thunder Of many hoofs
and the painting breath Of the innumer-
nblc multitude. On it rolled over every
obstacle. Tho wagon disappeared in Il
twinkling, its white cover going down
in tho black tide like a sinking ship at
sea. Past the islandliko bluff, wherc u
little group stood spellbound, the herd
swept, tho rushing tide sep rating Of
the rocky point, against which it beat
and parted to tho right and left. Look
ing down, they saw the stream flow by,
on and up the valley. 1t was gone, and
the green turf was brown where it had
been. The spring was choked, and tic
. n 4