Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-01-30

tue cuSo VI tuc grassy opCHs
Up in the shadow of the big rock.
close to the water. hole, were three buff
falo bulls, and one of those4' or, long,
legged buffalo oxen, such as. some
times seen in the herds hereabouts, ard
some of which grow to be fully two feet
taller than the largest bulls.
These oxen can be seen o mile of in
the herd. They are great flat
sided creatures, but comm only glossy
haired and fat. They have less name
and less hump on the neck than the
BULLS and their horns are much Slim
mer, but longer and moro curved.
As beef, they are equal to fat cew.
But it is rarely that one of them can be
shot or run down on horseback, for
they will outrun most horses. In that
respect, they differ wholly from the
bulls, which are net much inclined to
run, and will often turn and defend the
cows when they are pursued.
These buffaloes had probably lain
during the night in the shade of the
rock, and now they had just begun to
feed. 1 at once made out the tall OK,
and after another good look at him
through my glass, resolved, if possible,
to secure him for the hemlock thicket
extended up at one point within hun
dred yards Of the rock, as judged.
With glance at my gun, made my
way down among the rocks, gained the
edge of the hemlock copse, and then,
on my hands and knees, crawled very
slowly and cautiously through it--so
as not to move bough nor crack a
twig if I could help it.
Coming to the further side, l peeped
out from amongst the boughs. There
were the bulls and my tall Old OK, feed
ing close together near the water. So
still was the morning that could hear
every bite of grass they took.
Two of the bulls were tremendous
fellows-shaggy, and with enormous
names and humps. Their stub horns
were blunt, but of h uge thickness.
These were old bulls. The other was
youngster, not more than two or three
years old, but his horns we're sharp
they stuck out like two ebony spikes
and his coat was very glossy, almost
black.
But the long. legged OK was the ami.
NAL wanted. He was standing in fine
position, with his side fair to me. But
the distance was greater than had es-
timated. I was almost afraid to risk O
shot but T saw that if l could but
work my way round hundred rods or
so to the right, I might creep up close
to them from behind the big rock.
For minute or two weighed the
chances, and had about concluded to
fire from where I lay, and risk it, when
sudden movement in the thicket close
at hand, accompanied by a swaying of
the boughs, arrested my attention, and,
to my amazement, there emerged before
my eyes-not fifty feet off-a great gray
grizzly bear, nearly as large as one of
the buffalo bulls.
My heart gave jump, and then 1
curled down as low behind the under
growth, and lay as snug to the ground
as we'll could. I'M moment saw by
| his movements that he wasn't after me,
and that he probably knew no more OF
my presence than l had known of his.
Like myself, he was buffalo stalking.
Probably he had come into the thick
ct ahead of me. But if had Glanced
to fire, as I had concluded to, 1 have
no doubt I should have been in lively
business by that time. As it was,
thanked my lucky stars, and lying as
low as possible, determined to be O
spectator only, and see his grizzly
majesty do the hunting, and then take
the first opportunity of slipping away.
On emerging from the hemlock, the
great brute stood partly up, and swayed
himself to and fro once or twice, sniff
ing at the buffaloes.
Then he moved towards them. I ex-
pected they would scent him, and IN
stantly make off.
But they did not appear to notice
hin at all till he had approached with
in twenty-five or thirty yards, when the
nearest of the BULLS one of the two old
shaggy ones-suddenly faced round
with a low "Booy" and arching his
neck, paved up the turf, showing no
signs of fear or of retreating. '.
The other two bulls began booing
and paving where they stood, few
rods away, but did not appear disposed
to retire from the field. The OK, how.
ever, sheered off beyond the rock, and
stood looking on, with now aud then q
loud snort.
Seeing the bull on his defense. the
grizzly rose partially again and looked
him over, then dropping to his feet, he
advanced upon him. '..,
The bull held himself drawn up will
head lowered and horns Just visible in
the huge mass of his shaggy name. He
looked like a lion, thus arched for
fight, and with his tail standing out be.
hind. >
Neither the grizzly nor the bull ut.
tered sound but when the bear had
come within ten feet. perhaps, the hull
charged him.
1 expected now to witness @ grand
set-to. But the onset was over in ar
instant.
The bear gave one sweep OF his paw
The bull fell. His thlca neck was
broken. He scarcely seemed to still
where he lay, feet up.
That one quick sldewise stroke had
done its fatal work. Yet from where l
was, it seemed to have been but q pat.
The bear shifted the fallen bull once
or twice. then advanced towards the
other old bull, who was paving and
booing in deepest base. The latte,
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