Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-02-09
A Buffalo Hunt.

The second afternoon out, buffalo-herd
was discovered feeding far to the south,
resembling flock of black sheep in the
distance. A halt was at once called, and
preparations made for descent upon the
game in the morning. The horses were
tethered by long raw-hides, and the men
proceeded to put their guns and ammuni-
ton in order. The next morning dawned
fresh and clear. The buffaloes were still
in sight, though farther away; and, as the
wind blew from the hunters toward the
herd, long detOur was made in order to
approach them from the opposite side. At
length, the hunters dashed among them
and commenced the work of destruction
Wills horse, the unreliable Bonanza. be-
haved well while among his companions;
but no sooner did they scatter than he be-
came unmanageable, and his rider heartily
wished he had taken his fathers advice in
relation to the animal, as he found he was
going to be left out of the sport. There
were no breech-loading guns in the party,
and it would astonish a crack sportsman
with his repeating Winchester and ready
loaded shells in convenient belt-to see
horseman charge a lnuzzle-loader from the
saddle. The report of the hunters rifles
gradually diffused uneasiness among the
buffaloes, which numbered two thousand
or more, and they began to move, followed
by the relentless hOrsemen. In their course
they again approached the horse of our dis
appointed friend Viii tried desperately
TO get close enough for shot. tie sue
ceeGed, but scared bull, with shaggy
front and furious, twinkling eyes, charged
toward Bonanza, and that animal turned
and fed ANONYMOUSLY. The now terrified
buffa)oes closed IN upon the panic stricken
horse, and soon Will was surrounded by
the shaggy herd. He tugged vsInly at the
bit /; and the loud laughter Of his compan-
ions, who remembered his boast on starting
out, grew fainter as he was borne swiftly
away. He was not at all alarmed till he
looked back and saw that he was fast leav-
ing the men out of sight. Then flashed
upon him the thought of how powerlcss he
was in the midst of the unwieldy herd
He was completely surrounded, and the
frightened butfsloes were running at their
swiftest speed. which they would probably
continue for hours. He thought OF stop
ping his horse by taking off his coat and
putting it over the ANIMALS eyes. But
then, should the horse stop, he would be
knocked down by the buffaloes, and then
both of them be pounded to death beneath
the feet of the herd. So powerful are
these clumsy beasts that in large herd
they are almost invincIble. They leave a
track behind which much resembles d
plowed field Should one of the number
lose its footing it is almost sure To be killed
by its companions, as those in the rear,
crowding upon the forward ranks, makei
a pause impossible. Crocker observed hI:
sons peril first. He was heard to cry ou
suddenly, and then, applying his spurs, h'
galloped In the rear of the fast-retreatml
herd. Lecierc and Dutch followed hart
upon his heels, but the cooler -blooded Mex
leans remained TO skin the buffalOes tn
little party had slain. Meanwhile, VII
had given himself up for lost But h
looked his peri in the face, with courag
begotten OF saife among canzers- Sad
denly q despAste thought occurred 10 him
He had heard drovers and trappers tell o
Indian hunters whose mode of killing buf
I faloes was by running on their backs, anC
spearing them as they ran. Why coulC
not he escape that way The animals wer,
close together and, Thoughts misstep would
be fatal, TO remain in his present position
was certain death A dense cloud of black
dust hung over the h rd, through which
ma ight was visible but the tossing sea of
beasts near him. He, therefore. had no
idea how many animals interviewed between
himself and safety. His chances of es-
SaaD1a1 NOT mn. IN ton hItf tho
bling of his morse decided him TO make the
attempt. More thoughtful than most boys
would have been in the face of danger
like this, he unbuckIed his horses bride
and tied it around his gun (which he car
ried strapped to his back, and then, get
ting off his saddle on to the horses withers,
he loOsed the gIrth and let it fall to the
ground, intending, should he make his es-
cape, to 90 back and pick it up. He now
rose to his feet on the horse back, holding
to the animals name, and in an instant
leaped to the nearest buffalo, holding his
gun, like a balancing pole, in both hands.
The animal plunged, but he jumped to the
next and the next, like Eliza, crossing the
OHIO on the ice, in ''Uncle Toms CABIN
lie had accomplished half the distance,
NutH Oilc Vi luc buudlOGS, Seeing nm CciI-
ing, jumped TO one side. The boy fell
between, but dropped his gun in time to
grasp the animal by its long hair, and with
difficulty he climbed upon the terrified and
plunging creature, and jumped desperately
on till he reached the outside of the herd,
when he fell to the ground and rolled over
and over, with his head swimming and a
heart leaping for joy. He was yet in dan
ger from the stragglers on the edge Of the
herd, but the cloud of dust and the animals
it obscured passed by, and faded into a
smoke-like bIllow, leaving him uninjured.
Ten minutes after, Crocker and his two
followers gallOped up and, to their great
JOY, found the boy unhurt beyond few
bruises. Will rode home behind his
fathers saddle, but whether or not the ad-
venture had any effect for coed on his
stubborn nature, the chronicle saith not.