Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-06-02
HUNTING BUFFALO.
ONE Or THE LAST HUNTS or vHE
ALMOST ExrlNcr ANIMAL

tf n
Creeping up ~lsh c.asisa M ssssps.s
Hsrd-~Hsv~rn seemed n Take = Maek
unser~st IN abe Spers - Dsd ths st~s.
Chasing Ftyins malta
When we reached point Just below
she crest Of the hill. ! stopped and waiteI
while my coinpanion rode on. Just BE-
fore he vot to the top he. TOO, ha1tssl.
theu took III his hat and yeesegl over
the ridge. examining - much q the
prairie beyond 10 was now visible TO
him. His inspection war rarefnl and
thorough. and when he had uafls sure
that nothing was in sight his h0rno
tookn step or twp forward and than
STOPPED again. and the rider acsnnsd
every foot Of country before him. Ths
borse. trained m the real hunters h0Fue
h always trained. underAt6o1l whaf wns
required ~ him, and with priched ears
examined the rsairis beyond with -
much interest ~ did hts rider. when
the calf of Charley's right leg pressed
the horses side. two or three steps more
were taken, and then lifting " the
brisile hand caused another halt. $
At length saw my cosnpaaion slowly
bend forward over his horses neck. turH
and ride back 10 me. He had seen tls1
backs Of two buffalo lying ON the edge q
. little dat hardly u qnarter II mile
from where 10 stood The. oflno. 81
the band must be still nearer 10 us. By
riding along the lowest part Of the sax
which separated the two buttas, and
then down little revins. Il seemed
probable that we could come within
few yards Of the buffalo unobssrvesi.
Our preparations did not taks long. The
saddle cinchcs were loosened. blankets
erranged. saddles put In thsir proper.
places and tightly cinched again. Car-
ridges were brought round to the front
and right Of the belt, where they would
he convenient for reloading. Our coats
tied behind the saddle were looked to.
the strings which held them being
frightened and securely retied.
All this Was not lost ON our horses,
which understood ~ well as we did
what was coming. We skirted the
butte, rode through the low sag and
down into the little rayine, which soon
grew deeper. 30 that our heads were be-
bow the range Of vision OF almost any
ting ON the butte. Passing the mouth
Of the little side rayine. however, there
came into full view huge bull lying
we'll np on the hillside. Lnci<ily HE
bsck was toward AZ. and each bending
low over his hsrse's neck we rude on
and in a moment were hidden by the.
side Of the ravine. Two or three min.
sates more and we came TO another side
ravine, which was wide and commanded
a view VI the fat. We stopped before
seaching this. and peep assowed that
we were within few yards Of two old
cows. a Young heifer and yearling, all
OF them to the north Of us. Beyond we
could see the backs Of others. all lying
down.
We jumped ON our horses again, and
setting the spnrs well in galloped up
the ravine and up on the fiat. and as we
came into view the nearest buffalo, rs 1T
propelled by q hinge spring. were on
their feet, and with q seconds pause TO
look dashed away 10 the north Scat
tered over the fiat were fifty or seventy
five buffalo, all Of which, by the time
we had glanced over over the field, were
off, with heads hanging low 10 the
ground ana shorf. spiky tails stretched
out behind. We were up even with tbs
last OF the cows. and our horses were
rnnning easily and seemed to have
plenty OF reserve power. Charley, who
was little ahead OF me, called back:
They will cross the trail about mile
north OF here. Kill n couple when We
get 10 its nodded. and we went ON.
The herd raced forward over the roll
ing hills. and in what. seemed n very
short time we rushed down long slops
On 10 wide fiat. In which was i prairie
dog town III considerable extent We
were on the very lleelx Ut the herd and
IN cloud Of dust kicked up by their
rapid flight. To see the ground ahead
WAS impossible. We couid only trust TO
our horses and our good luck 70 save us
from falling. Unr animals wers doing
bettcr than we had supposed they could.
and were going well and under . pull
felt that tcnch Of ths spurs and
little riding would bring ns up. even
with the leaders of the buffalo. The
pxce had alseads proved roo mnch for
several bulls, which had turned OF 70
osse siae and been passed by.
A. we fiew across tho Hat | saw far Oh
a DARK line and two white objects. which
! knew inust bs our command. cailsd
- my comrade. and questioning by the
si9u Dointed at the buffalo. He nodded.
and In . moment we had given free rein
10 onr horses and were mp among the
herd Daring the ride had two or
1hree times selected my game. but the
individuals VI fha band changed posi~
lions so<onsfantis that could not keep
track Of them. Now, however, picked
OUT fst 2-ye2r0ld bull. bat ~ Ldrpw
up 10 him he Yaxr. faster than before, ana
rapidly made MS way toward the head
O. the hnasd, was resolved that he
should NOS e~raps. and 70, though was
till iifteenor twenty yards In the renr.
firs3
Al fms shot he fell heels over head d.
rectly across cow which WAS rfznxsinx
by HIS side and : little behind him. !
saw her turn somsrsault and almost 1t
the 6ams instant heard Charley shaat
twiee IL quick snccessien and saw TIVE
hanalo fall George Bird GrinnelI In
4 1rfek % the Trade.
-Yes.- said the merchant, Il always
mark the most expensive % ~ Boosls