The National tribune., 1898-06-23

but very discouraging, description of the
dangers and difficulties should have to
encounter, especially as / was not ac-
customed to that sort of warfare and
such combat is, in fact, a struggle for
life or death. But ! would listen to moth
ing. had spoken the word; would not
discuss the point, and looked upon all
their counsels as null and void. Ny de-
cision was right; for these kind counsels.
these frlghtful pictures of the dangers
was about to incur, had no other object
than to entrap me; they had concerted
amongst themselves to Judge of my cour-
age by my acceptance or refusal of the
combat. My only answer was to give
orders for the hunt. ! took great care that
my wife should not be informed of our
excursion, and ! set Off accompanied by
half a score Indians. nearly all Of whom
were armed with muskets. RuffaIO hunt
ing is different in the mountains from
what it is in the plains. On the plain one
only requires a good horse, with address
and agility in throwing the lasso: but in
the mountains it requires something more,
and, above all the most extraordinary
coolness and self-possessiOn are essen
italy necessary.
| This is the way in which it is done The
hunter takes gun on which he can de-
pend, and places himself in>such a posi-
| ton that the buffalo must see him on
| issuing from the wood. The moment the
animal sees him, he rusheS on him with
the utmost velocity, breaking. rendinc.
and trampling under foot every obstacle To
| the fury of his charge; he rusheS on as if
about to crush the enemy, then stops
within some PAGES for a few seconds, and
presents his sharp and threatening horns.
| This is the moment that the hunter
should fire, and lodge his ball in the fore
head of his foe. II unfortunately his gun
r,isses fire, Or If his cooiness fails him, If
his hand trembles, or his aim is bad, he
all.
This was, perhaps, the fate that awaited
me: but | was resolved To tempt this
cruel proof, and | went forward with in
trepidity perhaps to death.
We at length arrived on the skirts of an
extensive wood, in which we felt assured
there were buffaloS and here we halted
| | was sure of my gun and | conceived |
| therefore determined that the hunt should
| be conducted as If ! had been Il simple
| Indian / placed myself at the spot where
| il WAS fully expected that the animal
wou ID come out and forbade anyone To
| remain near me. ! ordered everyone to
his propr place, and then stood alone
on the Ooen ground, about 200 PAGES from
the borders Of the forest Ia await an
enemy that would show me no mercy if |
missed him. Ii is, | confess, n solemn
moment when one stands between life
and death by the more or less certainty
of gun, or the greater or less steadiness
Of the arm that holds it, was, however
perfectly tranquil.
When all were at their posts two hunt
ers entered the forest, having first thrown
off some Of their clothing the more
readily to climb up trees in case Of danger;
they had no other arms than q cutlass
and were accompanied by the dogs. A
dead silence continued for upwards OF
half an hour; everyone listening for the
slightest noise, but nothing was heard
The buffalo continues a long time fire.
qucntIy without betraying his lair; but at
the end Of the half hour we heard the
repeated barking Of the dogs, and the
shouts CT the hunters; the animal was
aroused from his cover. He defended
himself for some time against the dogs
till at length, becoming furious, he sprang
forward with a bound towards the skirts
of the forest. In Il few minutes after.
heard the crashing Of the branches and
the young trees that the buffalo rent
asunder in the terrible velocity of his
course.
His advance could only be compared 20
the saloping of several horses-to the
rushing noise Of some frightful monster
or, | might almost say, Of some furious
and d,abolical being. Down he came like
an avalanche; and at this moment, con
fess, J experienced such lively emotions
that my heart beat with extraordinary
rapidity Was il not death-aye. and
frightful death-that was perhaps ap-
preaching mc2 Suddenly the buffalo
made his appearance. He stopped for an
| instant; eazcd, as if frightened, around
him. sniffcd up the air of the plain which
extended in the distance; then, with
distcndcd nostrils, head bent, and horns
projected he rushed towards me, terrible
and furious.
| The moment was come. II had l0nged
for an opportunity of showing off my
courage and sang -froid to the Indians,
these two precious qualities were now