The National tribune., 1880-11-01
A Ride on a Buffalo.

Ride on Buffalo
Captain AIayne Reid, who lieutenant in the reg
ment of New York Volunteers during with Mex
ico and who left this country some years SINCE TO JON IN
the Hungarian struggle has recently published n London
lively dashing narrative, novel; entitled The Scalp
Hunters or Romantic Adventures in Northern Mexico
journey across the prairies from ST. Louis to Sane Fe
across the desert of Death and an expedition against
one of those tribes of Indians who have remained uncon
anered since the conquest of Mexico by Cores form the
prominent pictures of book In the of these
the hero camping out with party of hunters, is sud
denly surprised at night by the rush OF herd OF many
thousand bualoes careering madly along together in
dense body the plain the denouement OF winch
thus described:
full spectacle before Away to the west as far as
the eye could reach the prairie seemed 10 notion ack
waves rolled over its unduating outlines though some
burning mountain pouring down its lava upon the
plains thousand bright spots flashed and fitted along
the moving surface like jets of fire. The ground shook
men shouted horses reared upon their ropes neigng
wildly NY dog barked and howled running around me-
For moment thought was dreaming; but no, the
scene was real to be mistaken for vision saw the
border of the black whia PAGES of and still
approaching Them and not till then, did recognize the
shaggy crests and glaring eye-oalls OF the buffalo
"God of heaven / am in their track - shall be tram
pied to death
1t was too late to attempt to escape by running.
seized my rifle and fired at the foremost Of the band
The effect of my shot not percephble The water OF
the arroyo dashed in my face huge bull ahead OF
and np the Slope was lifted and tossed high into
air. was thrown rearwards, and fell upon moving
mass did feel hurt stunned. felt myself car
red onward upon backs of several animals that the
dense drove ran close together These, frightened at
their strange burden beloved loudly and dashed to
the front. sudden thought struck me, and, fixing on
that which was under me- dropped my legs astde
of him. embracing his hump and cutchng the long woody
hair that crew upon his neck The animal roned with
extreme terror ana, plunged lorWard soon heaueu eie
This was exactly what | wanted and went over
the prare the bull running at top speed believing no
doubt that he had panther or catamount between ms
shoulders .,.,.s.
he should altogether harmless and come TO a
halt slipped out my bowie, which happened to be
handy and pricked him up whenever he showed symp-
toms Of tagging At Every first touch OF the spur he
{ roared out, and ran forward at redoubled pace
My danger was still extreme. The drove was coming
t on behind with front of nearly mile. | could not
have cleared had the ball stopped and left on the
prarie.
laughing at my ludcrous situation; felt one does
o when looking at good comedy. We struck through
village of '.prare dogs Here anced the animal was
sudden pause but the buffalo usually runs in 81 bee
ne and fortunately mine made no exception to the law
On he WENT sinking to his knees Kicking tne DUST IRON
the concal hills snorting aud believing with rage and
terror.
e The sPlum butte directly in the line of ou
course had this from the start and knew that II
could reach them | would be safe They were nearl,
miles from the bluff where we had bivouacked but
in my ride fanced them ten.
small the prarie several hundred yards
nearer than the main heights. Towards this prckee
the foamng bull in last stretch and he brought me
20 cleyerly within hundred yards of its base.
1t was time to take my leave OF my dusk compan
d ion could have slaughtered him as leaned over h'
back My knife rested upon the most vulnerable part
his huge body No. would not have slain that buifa'
y for the Koh-ineor.
Untwsting my fingers from his thick fleece, slipped
down over his tail without much as saying " Goo'
night ran with all my speed towards the knoll climbed
u and sitting down upon loose boulder OF rocks looked
out over the prarie
i'd The moon was still shining brightly My late compan
ion had halted not far from where left him. and stoo
glarng back with look of extreme bewilderment fher
was something comical in the sight that yelled VIII
laughter as sat securely on my perch.
r.
+" For Iiisping Children.