Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-27

lCCb dndyf uOM ullceu, uOW ttu. ne
hugs the earth, gathers his feet under
him, and he bounds through the air as
if shot from a gun. He is rolling the
calf over and over on the glass in three
seconds after he springs.
Now watch
A cry of pain from the calf-a furi-
GUS below from the mother as she
wheels and charges the VOLTA
startled movement from a dozen Of
the nearest animals, and a rush be-
gins. The one wolf is magnifed into
hundred, the hundred into thou
sand. Short, sharp bellows, snorts of
alarn, rnsh, and in fifty seconds af-
ter the wolf has wet his fangs with
blood, that living mass is in a motion
to get away from an unknown terror.
J he waves rise higher and higher as
the confusion spreads. One instant
it seems as if 10000 solid acres of pra-
rie were moving bodily away-again
moves rise and fall as the towards be-
hind rush upon those in front who
wait to sniff the air and learn the dan
ger. In one minute the alarm runs
down the herd to the leaders further
than the eye can see, and the entire
herd is going off at mad gallop. heads
down, eyes rolling, and no thought
but that of escape. If Lake Erie
we're to dash itself against wall, the
shock would be no greater than the
awful crash with which this mass of
rattling hoof, sharp horns, and hairy
bodies would meet it. The clatter of
hoof and rattle of horns would drown
the noise of brigade of cavalry gallon
ing over stone paved road.
Ride out on their trail. Here where
the stampede began the ground is
torn and furrowed as if thousand
cannon had been firing solid shot at
targets. Here and there are calves
which have been gored or crushed
here and there older animals with
broken legs and disabling wounds.
Here, where the herd was fairly off,
you might as well hunt for a gold dol
lar as blade Of grass. You look for
three miles as you look across it. 1t
is trail of dirt, and dust, and ruts,
and furrows, where half an hour ago
was carpet of green grass aud smil.
ing flowers. The most dreadful cy-
clone known to man could not have
left more horrible scars behind.
Miles away, on the banks of the
winding, growing river, are three
whitetopped emigrant wagons. A
camp fire blazes up to boil the kettles
men, women and children stand
about, peering over the setting sun at
the distant mountains, and glad that
| their journey is almost done. Butter
flies come and go on lazy wing, the
cricket chirp cheerily on the grass,
and the eagles sailing in the blue
evening air have no warning to give.
| Hark Is that thunder?
Men and women turn in their tracks
as they look in vain for cloud in the
sky. That rumble comes again as
they look into each Others faces. 1t
grows louder as women turn pale and
men reach for their trusty rifles. The
ground trembles, and afar off comes a
| din which strikes terror to the heart.
Indians they whisper. MOI A
thousand times better for them if saw
age Pawnee dared ride down where
! these long barreled rifles could speak
a defense of the peaceful camp.
A stampede of buffaloes" |" gasps
one Of the men as he catches sight of
the advance guard under the awful
cloud of dust. Rifles are ready for a
shot and the children climb up on the
heavy wagon wheels to see the strange
procession gallop by.
Here they come Crack crack
crack from three rifles, and a shout
as each bullet tells. Next instant
shaggy head followed by dust
Drowned body, rushed through the
camp. Then another. aud another.
The men shout and wave their arms
the women and children turn paler
yet.
The roar and din shut out every
other sound, and the wagons jar and
tremble with the conclusion. Now
another shaggy head-another-half
a doEen-a score-a hundred--a great
living wave which sweeps along with
the power of a tornado, followed by
others more fierce and strong, and the
camp is blotted off the face of the
earth more completely than by any
power of Heaven Nothing is to be
seen-no shout to be heard. Wave fol
| lowed wave across the spot-over the
bank-into the stream and across, and
when the last of the herd has passed.
the keenest hgnter oan find nothing
on that spot Of wood, or iron, or cloth,
or hone. or flesh to prove that a dozen
men, women and children were there
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