New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
MONARCH OF THE GRAND PRAIRIE.
BATTLE BETWEEN BUFFALO AND A SCORE
OF WOLVES.
From The Denver Post.

y
look down upon spectacle as exciting as any
thing offered in the days of loodthrsty Roman
sports. Stretching away to the north is dip and
hollow and broken ground for a mile Then
comes the grand prairie, sweeping clear to the
south fork Of the Platte before it surrenders
to the hills.
Did ever human king have n grandcr throne,
lie stands on n knoll covered with rich, sweet
grass, and even with the naked eye you can see
the violcts and hluehells and forge;-me-nois
pccping between the blades. 1t is a throne OF
" ildilOwcrS
Ten miles away are a dozen moving black
spocks. They are bunaocs. Nothing else with
life in 1t Is nearer The kings domains are rich
I'm food and drink. and the carly morning sun
shine tells OF peace and harmony. He stands
with head elevated. and as he slowly turns in
his tracks he shifts the air for scent Of danger.
Who is our king? buffalo bull-nature's mon
arch Of tho grand prairie.
How cam, he here alone and deprived of com
partnership? Men become cynics and world
haters and shake off al attempts at friendli-
ness. so with wild animals. This monarch Is
herc to pout and sulk and feel aggrieved and
plan FOR revenge.
An! High above him. with every foot Of ground
under your eyes, you could see no danger. His
Keen sent him Of peril and WOLF
breaks cover not one hundred feet way in a
manner TO stdrtlc you. lie seems to rise from
the very carth-not with n bound and yell.
but with a quiet GOODNESS that BODIES evil.
The bull lowers his head and his eyes fash at
the sigh. 81 the enemy who has come to disturb
his rcycrics Compare their size and strength,
Il
harm to a buffalo. one blow from hoof--on
toss from the horns. and the wolf would lie
crushed and dead.
Pooh It's an enemy not worth a second
glance, Tho wolf may look with longing eyes
aud ll,k his chops FOR taste OF blood but he Is
wasting time. In that grove 70 the left bunch
Of cattle 4. grazing. He had best shamblc across
the broken ground. give chase and hamstring
one or more ~ them.
What Another? As the chickens rise from
cover so that second wolf suddenly shows him
sr.ff hl
beasts even suspect each others presence. They
are fifty fect apart. and both sit and stare
straight At tho monarch Of the plains The hull
gives his head n toss he sights the second
pair. Nothing strange in that.
Yes. rub your eyes t. see IL they are clear.
pops a third fourth. hfth and sixth wodsh
head. followed by n body which Is ever gaunt
and lean ever the synonyme 81 hunger one
wolf created nothing beyond momontary sur
prize. the pair bred "A feeling OF contempt inc
six u them may bring peril
And 30 the monarch evidently reasons. He
PAWS tn ground. shakes his head. ana that low
hollow expresses nnNlcty well as defiance
Iir could 81 heel AID rush away. and IN an hour
De- could Do feeding with the herd. But thcr,
are PRIDE and oas'inacy and jcal oisy 10 be con
suited. SO d.putation has come rom tn" herd
g. coax ard reason with him. aud he viii d.
battle for his Ne rather than Si,e IN. 1t j.
hoth ruauliic aud brutrlikc.
What, Have the six multiplied 50 fast? Just
n moment ago We sa" only the half dozen; no"
there are ton tvriy.. sixteen they are rising
from the earth all around him. The bull turns
az Il on a pivot wolves 10 tn" north the easy
tho south the west. The circle is complete.
Watch him
when a man mus, die in presence Of his enc
mics a., him die Ike warrior The monarch
knows what this gathering means. lie secs
the lollng tongues and he hears the snashlns
= teeth There IS no help for him lie must
die Ike a craven or prove his courage
Soc the head 40 w: Hear the roar Of q aiiancc ?
L. there anything craven IN that attitude
Tho wolves have been sitting a. quiet as so
many bio, Es Of stone placed on the grass. That
roar Of defiance puts hfe into them and they
move ncar.r
Curious pantomme a grand old huhalo
turning slowly round and round in his tracks
70 eye each wolf and watch every motion y
scorc and a half II gaunt. grim. waiting beasts
every eye fixed upon a common centre, every
faug sharpcuod for feast
Swish. thrush.
'rhc circle closes In ut the signal. and for III
teen seconds tho eye Is confused 1t appears as
II some ono hidden in the grass was tossing nnd
waving strips Of gray and white cloth. Inc
roars Of the bull arr almost drowned In the
Wins and growls and howls OF the assailants.
GOOD There Is game th're' Ihe monarch
has used his horns and hoofs to such good pur-
nos, that the circl" has opened away from MN
Iogs and TANKS and shoulders have been bitten
and teeth have drawn blood. where bullet
would hardly penetrate. but he Is not dsarmed.
Under his feet ar" two dead W"Ncs' TWO ihoic
linn around outside the circle.
I',n-m-m, Paw, Toss Come again II you
dare
tacle Of gray white bundles jumping over chch
oihrr and the circle falls back 10 breathe.
There are long tufts Of hair on the grass.
more dead wolves. spots OF blood. Inc nun
shakes his head and seems weak on ms ncEs,
iI,cs while he barely touches the grass with
one hind foot. There Is n low below ana some.
thing in /, smacks OF fear; Fan II you must