The National tribune., 1898-06-23

face with the peril I had courted; the
dilemma was one of the most decided and
unavoidable that>could possibly be- con-
queror or conquered, there must be a
vctim-the buffalo 6s me. and we were
| both equally dispOscdsto defend ourselves.
1t would be difficult for me to state
| exactly what was passing in my mind,
during the brief period which the buffalo
took in clearing the distance that lay
between us. My heart, so vividly agi-
tated while the ferOciouS animal was
rushing through the forest, now beat no
longer. My eyes were fixed upon him,
my gaze was rivetted on his forehead in
such a manner that I could see nothing
else. My mind was concentrated on one
subject alone, in which was so absorbed,
the dogs were still barking at short
distance, as they followed their prey. At
length, the buffalo lowered his head, pre-
sented his sharp-pOinted horns, stopped
for a moment, then, with a sudden
plunge, he rushed upon me, and l fired.
My ball pierced his skull, and was hait
saved The animal fell within n pace OF
me, like mass of rock, SO loud, and so
heavy.
planted my foot between his two horns
and was preparing to fire my second
barrel when n long and hollow believing
indicated that my victory was complete
the monster had breathed his last sigh.
My Indians then came up. Their Joy
was succeeded by admiratiOn; they were
in ecstacy; ! was everything they could
wish for. All their doubts had vanished
with the smoke of my rife, when, with
steady aim, | had shot the buffalo. Twas
brave; had won their confidence; / had
stood the test. My victim was cut up in
pieces and borne in triumph to the village.
AS the victor, ! took his horns; they
were six feet long. have since deposited
them in the Museum of Nantes. The
.,,,n< Hn:, lnH
me thenceforward "Malamt Oulu," Tagal
words, which signify cool head"
/ must confess, without vanity, that the
proof to which my Indians had subjected
me was sufficiently serious to give them
decided opinion of my courage, and to
satisfy them that a Frenchman was as
brave as themselves. The habit l subse
Quently acquired of hunting convinced
me that but little danger is really incurred
when the weapon is good one, and the
seH-possession does not fail.
Once every month l INDUCED in this
exercise, which imparts such lively SEN
Sations; and recognized the facility with
which one may lodge a ball in a plain
surface, few inches in diameter, and at
a few PAGES distance. But it is no less
true that our first huntings were very
dangerous. Once only | permitted a
Spaniard named OcampO to accompany
us. | had taken the precautiOn to station
two Indians at his side; but when
quilted them to take up my own post he
imprudently sent them away and soon
after, the buffalo started from the wood,
and rushed upon him. He fired both his
barrels, and missed the animal; we heard
the reports and ran towards him, but it
was too late! Ocampo was no longer in
existence.
The buffalo had gored him through and
through, and his body was plowed up
with frighlful wounds. But no such acci-
dent ever took place again; for when
strangers came to witness our buffalo
| hunts, / made them get up in a tree, or
on the crest of mountain, where they
might remain as spectators of the combat,
without taking any part in it, or bel lg
exposed to any danger
And now that | have described buffalo
| hunting in the mountains, must return
| to my colonizing labors.
ITO be cottinued.)