Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-05-12

that the buffalo gained upon me, and was al
most treading upon my heels. l knew 1t on
ly by my ears-I dared not spare time to
look back.
At this moment, an object appeared before
me, that promised, one way or other, to inter
cept the chase; it was ditch or gully, that
intersected my path at right angles 1t was
several feet in depth, dry at the bottom, and
with perpendicular sides. was almost upon
its edge before noticed it, but the moment 1t
came under my eye, saw that it offered the
means of temporary safety, at least. If |
could only leap this gully, l felt satisfied that
the buffalo could not. 1t was sharp leap
at least seventeen feet from cheek to cheek
but had done more than that in my time ;
and, without halting in my gait, ran for
ward to the edge, and sprang over. l allght.
ed cleverly upon the opposite bank, where l
stopped, and turned around to watch my pur:.
suer. | now ascertained hoy near my end
had been; tho bull was already up to the gull
ly. Had not made my leap at the instant
| did, I should have been, by that time, dan'
cling upon his horns. He himself had baked
at the leap; the deep chasm-like cleft had
cowed him. He saw that he could not clear
it; and now stood upon the opposite bank
with head lowered, and spread nostrils, his
tail lashing his smooth fanks, while his glsr-
ing black eyes expressed the full measure of
his baffled rage. | remarked that my shot
had taken effect in his shoulder, as the blood
trickled from his long hair. l had almost
begun to congratulate myself on having es:
capped, when hurried glance to the right, and
another to the lef., cut short my happiness
I saw that on both sides at distance Of less
than fifty PAGES, the gully Swallowed out into
the plain, where it ended at either end, it was,
of course, passable. The bull observed this
almost at the same time as myself; and sud-
denly turning away from the brink he ran
along the edge Of the chasm, evidently with
the intention of turning it. In less than
minutes time we we're once more on the same
side, and my situation appeared as terrible as
ever; but stepping back for short run,
leaped the chasm, and again we stood on op'
posite sides.
During all these maneuvres had held on
to my rife; and seeing now that | might
have time to load it, commenced feeling for
my powder horn. To my astonishment |
could not lay my hands upon it; looked
down to my breast for the sling-it was not
there belt and bullet pouch too-all were
gone! l remembered lifting them over my
head, when set about cutting the dead bull.
They were lying by the carcass. This discov'
cry was new source of chagrin but for my
negligence, l could now have mastered my
antagonist. To reach the ammunition would
be impossible; should be overtaken before
l had got half way to it. I was not allowed
very much time to indulge in my regrets;
the bull had again turned the ditch, and was
once more upon the same side with me, and |
was compelled to take another leap. | really
do not remember how often sDrang forward
and backward across that chasm | should
think a score of times at least; | became
wearied with the exercise. The leap was just
as much as l could do at my best; and as |
was growing weaker at each fresh spring,
became satisfied that should soon fall short.
and crush myself against the steep rocky sides
of the chasm. Should fall to the bottom,
my pursuer could easily reach me by entering
at either end, and I began to dread such
finale. The vengeful brute showed no symp.
toms of retiring; on the contrary, numerous
disappointments seemed only to render him
more determined in his resentment.
An idea now suggested itself to my mind.
had looked round to see if there might not
be something that offered better security.
There were trees, but they were too distant;
the only one near was that to which my horse
had been tied II was small one, and like
all Of its species Git was cotton wood,) there
l. H. hat
could Chamber up it by embracing the
trunk, which was not over ten inches IN dl.
ameter Could | only succeed in reaching it,
it would at least shelter me better than the
ditch, of which was getting heartily tired.
But the question was, could reach it before
the bull? 1t was about three hundred yards
off. By proper maneuvering, should have
a start of fifty. Even with that, it would be
"close shave;" and it proved so. 1 arrived
at the tree. and sprang up like a mountebank;
but the hot breath of the buffalo steamed
after me as | ascended, and the conclusion
of his heavy skull against the trunk almost
shook me back upon his horns. After Sc.
we're effort, | succeeded in lodging myself
among the branches.
| was now safe from all immediate danger,
but how was the affair to end !? I knew from
the xperience of others, that my enemy might
stay for hours by the tree-perhaps for days.
Hours would be enough. | could not stand
it long. hungered, but worse appetite
tortured me thirst The hot sun, the dust,
the violent exercise of the past hour, all con.
tributed to make me thirsty. Even then |
would have risked my life for a draught of
water. What would it come to should | not
be relieved? l had but one hope-that my
companions would come to my relief; but |
knew that would not be before morning.
They would miss me of course. Perhaps my
horse would return to camp-that would send
them out in search of me-but not before
night had fallen. In the darkness, they could
not follow my trail. Could they do so in the
light? This last question which / put to
myself, startled me. l was just in condi-
ton to look upon the dark side of everything,
and it now occurred that they might not be
able to find me! There were many possbili-
ties that they might not. There were nu-
merous horse trails on the prairie, where
Indians had passed. saw this when track
ing the buffalo. Besides, it might rain in
the night, and obiterate them all-my own
with the rest A circle Of ten miles in diam
eter is large tract. 1t was rolling prairie,
full of inequalities, ridges with valleys be.
tween. The tree upon which | was perched
stood in the bottom Of one of the valleys
it could not be seen from any point over 800
yards distant. Those searching for me might
pass within hail, without perceiving either
| the tree or the valley.