Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-08-10

1t was a calm, beautiful morning in
the month of October, that nv friend
Bob Morton and myself mounted our
| horses and rode up to the north bank
of the South Platte on hunt after buff
faloes. The Platte river at st. Vrain's
makes a great bend-the river above
the fort running almost due north, and
turning almost due east at the foot
We thought we would ride up the river
few miles, and then, striking north
ward into the broad, open prairie, where
we would be most likely to find our
| games return bysa short cut across The
prairie to the fort.
We rode up the river until almost
noon, seeing many deer and wolves
for one could hardly ride through this
tall grass mile without seeing them
yet, as We were not looking after this
kind of game, We paid no attention to
them until nearly noon, when feeling
somewhat tired and hungry, Bob, who
was an excellent shot, killed a fine
buck; and, dismounting. we made a
most delicious meal on the young and
tender venison.
Mounting, after dinner, we struck
northwest across the broad prairie,
where, with the exception of the tall
grass, there was not tree or shrub on
all that vast expanse, except along the
river bank.
1t was o'clock in the afternoon,
just as we were beginning 10 get dis
couraged, and we were thinking of
turning our horses heads towards home,
when we discovered the object of our
search. There were two buiialoes quiet
lv feeding on little rise in the prairie
the first rise we had discovered since
leaving the river.
=. Hurrah, Fred Z" exclaimed Bob,
putting spurs TO his horse, and getting
excited. " Now for some sport, and
bufaloes' tongues for supper!' and
away he went at a reckless, break-ncck
speed.
Our game was a long distance of
when first discovered, and had disap-
peared over the rise in the prairie, and
was out of sight.
We agreed to separate as soon as we
reached the top of the ridge, and each
take our game, and charge down upon
them, and capture both if possible.
As we came dashing up to the top of
the hill they discovered US, and imme-
diately took to flight. Butialoes can run
| very fast, Notwithstanding their weight:
| they seem TO gather momentum as they
proceed, and are not easily run down.
We made our choice Immediately, and
gave pursuit.
My horse was fleet, but the tall grass
tangled his feet, and had long, hard
chase before came up with my game.
paid no attention to Bob: his game
had taken a different direction from
mine, and we were soon widely scpar-
ted.
After a hard chase, / came near
enough. thought, to venture a shot
perhaps, if | did not kill him could
cripple him, and thus stop him some
what in his mad career. brought my
rifle to my shoulder quickly; but as l
fired, my horse stumbled slightly, his
feet having become tangled in the grass,
and missed my aim, but struck the
beast in the shoulder instead of the
heart: and the ball being large, made a
terrible wound, from which the blood
flowed in a stream.
This maddcned him; and turning
quickly he charged with terrible hall
snort and half roar down upon me- NV
horse was taken by surprise and fright
ened: and, in springIng partly to one
side, as il to turn suddenly and fly away
| from the mad creature, his foot caught
in the tangled grass, and he fell, throw
ing me many feet over his head.
The fall did not hurt me, and | was
on my feet in an instant: but before
could reach my horse, he was up and
bounding over the prairie, leaving me
to my fate.
had no time to think whether fan
cied the situation or not, for the mad
bull was upon me almost: and with a
look of despair after my flying horse, |
ran, | knew not whittier, but with an
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 ene-
my. 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 a few moments.
saw not the slightest chance for nv
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, and taking awav nv
strength, and a 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 a dearly as possible.
| always carried il in nv belt: and per.
haps | could throw it over my shoulder
and shoot him in the eve. had no
hope of the ball doing him any harm il
II Int him anywhere else: for these an
imals have thick mass Of hair. on their
forehead, that is so matted together with
sand and dirt, that no ball from a rifle
will penetrate it. knew. ifa ball from,
my revolver struck his forehead il would
have no more effec, than the wind blow.
ing against it.
| put my hand to nv belt: but nv
revolver was gone, the scabbard wa.
empty. thad probably fallen ou, when
| was thrown from my horse.
II was with feeling somewha, q,
despair that | found ii gone. II hseemed
as II there was nothing but death be.
fore me: for how could | hore 10 es.
cape from, or cope successfully with, :