Wilmington journal., 1876-02-25

| DOo AAOA bOu duu uIy SOIL AOuhbNo VI
horses and rode up the north bank
the South Platte on hunt after buff;
loes You will understand that I'll
Platte river, at ST. VraiL's, makes
great hend-the river above the fol
running almost due north, and turnin
almost due east at the foot W
thought We would ride up the river
few miles, and then, striking north
west into the broad open prairie, wber
We should be most likely to find ou
game, return hy short cut across tn
prairie to the fort; though it made ht
tie difference to us whether We returne
tonight or, tomorrow, as we were &C
customed to camping out.
We rode up the river until almos
noon, seeing many deer and wolves
for one could hardly ride through thi
tall grass a mile without seeing then
yet, as we were not looking after thu
KIND OF game, we paid no attention t.
them until nearly noon, when. feeling
somewhat tired and hungry. Bob, wht
was an excellent shot, killed a fnt
buck; aud, dismounting, we made {
most delicious meal on the young ten
der venison.
Mounting, after dinner, We struck
where, with the exception Cf the tai
grass, there was not tree or shrub or
all that vast expanse, except along the
river bank
1t was about four O clock in the after
noon, ju-t as We were beginning to get
discouraged. and we were thinking of
turning our horses heads towards
home, when we discovered the objects
of our search. They were two buff l.
loes quietly feeding on a little rise OF
the prairie-the first rise we had dis
covered sine leaving the river We
We're now many miles from where we
had left the river At noon. but hoped
we were not far from the fort by di-
rect route across the prairie, though
we did not know how r, neither Of
us having been out there before.
Hurrah, Fred! exclaimed Bob, put
ting spurs to his horse and getting ex-
cited. "Now for some sport, and
buffaloes' tongues for SUPPER" and
away we went at reckless break neck
speed.
Our game was long distance off
VIXEN first discovered, and disappeared
over rise in the prairie, aud 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 aud capture both, if possible. AS
we came dashing up to the top of the
hill they discovered us and immedi-
ately took to flight. Buffaloes can
run very fast, notwithstanding their
weight; they seem to gather momen-
tum as they proceed, and are not
easily run down. We made our choice
INN diately and gave pursuit.
My horse was feet but the tall gr ,ss
tangled his feet, and [ ha loug hard
chase before l came up with my game.
paid no attention TO Bob; his game
had taken a different direction fr. n
mine, and we were soon widely sepa-
rated
After a hard chase, I came near
enough, [ thought. to venture a shot
if l did not kill him, I could
cripple him and thus st.p him son.e-
what in his mad career. [ brought my
rifle TO my shoulder quickly; but as 1
fired my horse stumbled slightly, his
feet having become tangled in the
grac s, 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 flew in a stream.
This maddened him; and turning
quickly, he charged with terrible
ha.f snort. and half roar down upon
me. Ny horse was taken by surprise
and frightened; and in springing partly
to one side, as if to turn suddenly and
fly away from the mad creature, his
feet caught in the tangled grass, and
he fell, throwing me many feet over
his head.
The fall did not hurt me, AMI I was
on my feet in an instant; but before /
could reach my horse he was up and
bounding away over the prairie, leav-
ing me to my fate.
[ had no time to think whether l
fancled the situation or not, for the
mad bull was upon me almost; md
with a look of despair after my flying
horse, [ ran, / knew not whittier, but
with an instinct OF self-pre ,ervatioD;
all this happened in an instant, [ had
hoped the maddened creature would
pursue my hors~; but not so-the
buffalo knows well who is his worst
enemy [ was fleet of foot; for / had
run for my life many times; but the
tall grass lmpeded my progress, and
ku4w | could hold out but u few mos
ments.
I saw not the slightest chance for my
life. Hete l was. upon this broad
ocean of prairie; Bob was. [ knew not
where, nor had tim to look; the grass
tagging my feet and taxi ng away my
strength. aud IA wounded buffalo with
in few yards of me, and gaining
upon me at every bound.
thought Of my revolver, and that l
would sell my life as dearly as possi-
BILE. I always carried it IN my belt,
and perhaps [ couid throw it over my
shoulder and shoot the bull in the eye.
| had no hope of the bail dong HIM
auv hurt if 1t hit him anywhere else;
for you must know that these animals
always have tnlck mass of hair on
-! ir foreheads, that is so matted
together with sand and dirt, that no
ball from a rifle will penetrate it. L
knew if a ball from my rife struck his
forehead, it wonld have ~ more effect
than the wind blowing against it.
Iput my hand to my belt; bnt my
revolver " as gone, the scabbard was
empty. 1t had probably fallen out
when I Was thrown from my horse.
1t was with feeling somewhat of
despair that [ found it gone 1t
seemed as if there was nothing but
death before me; for how could l hope
to escape from. cope successfully with,
wound, butfaio-woundtd, as
knew. in no vital pant, but sufficiently
to madden him.
1 could hear more Elainiy his hall
erunt and half snort close upon ny
heeIs-and could feel his breath upon
nv bacB-in another instant he would
be upon me-would pierce me with bis
SHORT stumpy ho,ns-wculd grind me
to fhe .arth with his monster head
and trample me beneath his feet.
indeed felt that my time had come
that no earthly power could save me
and instinctiveIy I breathed prayer tc
| heaven.
at that instant my feet became en-
| tangled and L fell; the maddene6
Creature had just touched me as wen
down, and was under sucn terrible
| head way that he passed directly over
me without touching me. AS his tai
brushed over my face Igrasped it, AM
| VOC droo ooad tn NV feet as the buffalO