The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-03-24
A BaGalo stampede.
lFrom the Sc Nleholas for March. J

| Passing out between the hills, the
young fellows found themselves on
q nearly level plain. Here, too,Was
q dense crowd of buffalOes, stretch
ing off to the undulsting horizon.
As the two explorers walked on, a
wide lane seemed TO open in the
mighty herds before them. Insen-
sibly, and without any hurry, the
creatures drifted away to the right
and left, browsing or staring, but
continually moving. Looking back
they saw the buffal oes had closed
up the ranks on the trail which they
had first pursued; while before and
on either hand was a wall of ami
mails.
We are surrounded !" almost
whispered Arthur, with alarm.
'Never mind, my boy. We can
walk out just as the children of IS
rael did from the Red Sea. Only
we have waves of buffaloes, instead
of water, to close behind and open
before and be q wall on each side.
Seel !"
And, rs they kept on, the mass
before them melted away in some
mysterious fashion, always at the
same distance from them.
"See" We move in vacant space
that travels with US wherever we
go, Arty."
"Yes," said the lad. sit seems
just as if we were q candle in the
dark. The open ground around US
is the light we shed: the buffaloes
are the darkness outside"
ga good figure of speech, that,
my laddie; I must remember it.
But we are getting out of the wild
erRess."
They had now come to sharp
rise of ground, broken by rocky
ledge, which turned the herds more
to the northward. Ascending this,
they were out of the bufaloes for a
time, but beyond them were thous-
ands more. Turning southwark,
they struck across the country for
the wagon-track quite we'll satisfied
with their explorations.
Between two long divides, or
ridges, they came upon a single
wagon, canvas discovered: in which
were two little children. Two boys
lone about seven and the other
eleven years old-were playing near
by, and four oxen were grazing by
a spring.
In reply to Mont's surprised ques-
ton as to how they came of the
trail. and why they were alone, they
said that their father and uncle had
come up after buffaloes, and were
out with their guns. Their mother
was over on the bluff-pOinting to q
little rocky mass which rose like an
island in the middle of the valley.
She had gone to hunt for "saryjce.
berries" They were left to mind
the cattle and the children.
"Pretty careless business, 1 should
say" murmured Mont. "Well
youngsters" he added, "keep by
the wagon if your cattle stray off
they may get carried away by the
buffaloes. Mind thatl"
They went on down the valley
looking behind them at the helpless
little family alone in the wilderness
GA man ought to be licked fol
leaving his young ones here in such
a lonely place." said Mont.
Suddenly, over the southern wal
of the valley, like thunder cloud
rose a vast and fleeing herd of buf
faloes. They were not only run
ming, but they were rushing like {
mighty food.
"a stampedeI stampede I" cried
Mont; and flying back to the un
conscious group of children, follow
ed by Arthur, he said: "Run fol
|, your lives, youngsters! Make foI
the bluff"
Selling one of the little ones, ant
bidding Arthur take the other, b.
started the boys ahead for the island
bluff, which was some way dow
the valley. There was not a mo
ment to lose. Behind them, like
rising tide, moved the buffaloes il
: surges. A confused murmur fillet
the air; the ground resounded wit
the hurried beat of countless hoofs
and the earth seemed to be disap
pearing in the advancing torrent
Close behind the flying fugitives tn
angry, panic stricken herd tumble,
and tossed. Its labored breathin
: sighed like breeze, and the Warmt
of its pulsations seemed to stifle tn
air.
'To the left! to the left I" scream
!. ed Arthur, seeing the bewiIdere
! boys, who fed like deer, making di
! rectly for the steepest part of tn
/. bluff. Thus warned, the lads bound
! ed up the little island, grssping th
! underbrush as they climbed. Har
= behind them came Arty, pale, hi
= features drawn aud rigid, and bear
ing in his arms little girl. Mon
brought up the rear with q stout DO
3 on his shoulder, and breathless wit
, excitement and the lsborious run.
Up the steep side they scrambled
falling and recovering themselve
Z but up at last. Secure on a bar
: rock, they saw a heaviDg tide {
wild creatures pour tumultu0sl
J, over the edge and fill the valley.
= leaped from ledge to ledge, tumble
and broke, rallied again and sweI
on black and silent save for Il
!. rumbling thunder of many hoo
y and the painting breath of the limit
:, merable multitude. On it role
: over every obstacle. The WACO
= disappeared in twinkling, its viii
3 cover going down In the black tic
I like q sinking ship at sea. Past tt
island bluff, where the little grou
e stood speIl-bouDd, the herd even
. the rushing tide separating at Il
- rocky point, against which it be-
z and parted to the right and lei
= Looking down, they saw the strea
flow by, on and up the valley.
was gone, and the green turf WI
brown where it had been. II
= spring was choked, and the wage
= was trampled in q fiat ruin.
:. FASCINATED by the sight, Mont ar
= a rthur never took their eyes fro
. it until it was over. Then, returl
ing to their young charges, they ga
N 3 tall, gaunt woman, with h0rro
n stricken face, gathering the who
4 in her arms. It was the mother.
4 81 don't know who you be, your
: men, but ! thank you from the DO
: tom of my heart" she said. aye
3; thank you from the bottom OF 10
heart-and OIL I thank God, to,
And she burst out crying.
q, Arthur, ct loss what else to Ga
he remarked: Your wagon is
es smashed"
n 81 don't eare-don't care" "a
n said the woman, Historically roc
{. ing herself TO and fro where she E
ia 4 - =