The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-01-14

win was surrounded by the shaggy
herd. He tugged vainly at the bit; ana
the loud laughter Of his companions.
Who remembered his boast on starting
ont. grew fainter as he was borne sWlft-
~ away. ..u =,
looked back and saw that he was fast
leaving the men out OF sight. Inen
flashed upon him the thought OF nov
powerless he was In the midst OF tne
uhwieldy herd. He was completely
surrounded, and the frightened ouna.
loes were running at their swiitess
speed, which they would probably con-
tinue for hours.
he thought of stopping his horse BY
taking off his coat and putting 1t over
the animals eyes. But then, should
the horse stop, he would be knocked
down by the buffaloes, and 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 IN.
yincible. They leave track behind
them which much resembles q 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. make
q pause impossible.
Croker observed his sons peril first:
He was heard to cry out suddenly, ana
then. APPLYING his spurs, he galloped
in the rear of the fast-retreating herd.
Leclerc and Dutch followed hard upon
his heels, but the colder FLOODED Mexi-
~,-.o;rol En- SKIN tho hnffalOoS the
little party had slain.
Meanwhile. Will had given himself up
for lost. But he looked his peril in the
face, with courage begotten OF . l1e
among dangers.
Suddenly. q desperate thought &C.
Cured to him. He had heard drovers
end trappers tell of Indian hunters whose
mode of killing buffaloes was by
running on their backs. jumping from
one to another, and speariDg them as
they ran. Why could not he escape
that way? The animals were close to-
gether, and, though misstep would be
fatal, to remain in his present position
was certain death.
A dense cloud of black dust hung
over the herd. through which naught
was visible but the tossing sea OF beasts
near him. He, therefore, had no idea
how many of the animals interviewed
between himself and safety. His
chances of escape seemed not one in
ten, but the stumbling of his horse de-
cided him to make the attempt.
More thoughtful than most boys
would have been in the face of a danger
like his, he unbuckled his horses bride
and tied it around his gun (Which he
carried strapped to his back), and then,
getting off his saddle onto the horse s
Withers, he loosed the girth and let it
fall to the ground, intending, should he
succeed in making his escape, to go
back and pick it up. He now rose 70
his feet on the horses back. holding TO
the animals name, and in an instant
leaped to the nearest buffalo. holding
his gun, like q 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" He had accomplished
| half the distance, when one of the but
faloes, seeing him coming, jumped ia
one side. The boy fell between. but
dropped his gun in time to grasp thu
l animal by its long hair. and with diff
J Guilty he climbed upon the terrified ane
4 plunging creature and jumped des
/. perately on till he reached the outsid.
+ of the herd, when he fell to the GROUND
and rolled over and over, with his heae
q swimming and heart leaping for joy
;, He was yet in danger from the strag
s glers on the edge Of the herd. but TIT
Il clord of dust and the animals it 90
: scured passed by and faded into
o smoke-like billow, leaving him unin
jured. ~.
o Ten minutes after, Croker and hi
d two followers galloped up and. to thei
great joy, found the boy unhurt beyon'
y few bruises.
n Will rode home behind his father
saddle, but whether or not the advent
n ure had any effect for good on his stub
+ born nature the chronicle saith no,
# Let us hope it had. Marshall White
n in st. Nicholas.