The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-09-30
one, aid the COW Dire pped to tho ground

The mule hung back, but, by judi
cious amount of coaxing and pulling,
Cheney managed TO get him to APP
proach near enough TO the dead cow TO
allow him to bleed her.
Then he again mounted his ungain-
ly beast and hurried on in pursuit of
the herd.
He could hear the shots and half
savage yells of the hunters; and spurred
the mule to his utmost speed.
The hindmost buffaloes were strug-
Cling desperately TO advance, but the
contagion of fright had evidently not
spread TO the extreme limits of the
herd, and they got on slowly. After
considerable hard riding, Cheney again
came up 10 them.
The nearest bdffalo was huge bull.
He rode up 20 the old fellows side and
fired. The bull dropped almost at the
crack of his gun.
But Cheney had shot too high, the
ball tearing through the heavy sinews
that run along the backbone.
This has the effect OF stunning the
animal but it RECEIVERS in a very short
time.
He now began 10 plume himself on his
ability as shot, and once more dis
mounted and advanced toward the pros
trate buffalo, knife in hand.
AS he neared it, to his great surprise
IL staggered to It's feet, and, with head
lowered, dashed full at him.
He knew how terribly dangerous are
buffalo's horns, and at once became
panic-stricken and turned to run.
The mule jerked the bride from his
hand and started at a mad pace over
the prairie.
Cheney bounded forward like an ath-
lete, but the angry bull speedily over
took him, and tossed him high into the
air. He fell heavily, and knew he was
badly injured. When he looked about,
the buffalo was standing a short dis
lance away, eying him savagely. See
ing him move. it again lowered it's head
and came at him.
lie was still shaking like n leaf with
fright and pain, but he managed to get
another cartridge into the barrel of his
carbine and fire before the brute was
on him.
The ball struck him just under the
neck, and the great animal fell dead al
most at his feet.
Peters injuries were very painful, and
he found that he had one leg broken and
the flesh torn from the other halfway
from the ankle to the knee.
The other hunters were still pursuing
the now thoroughly frightened herd,
which was leading them farther and
farther away.
Cheney was man Of iron will, and al
though the pain was almost unendur-
able, he placed his broken limb in posi-
lion, and bound it up with strips torn
from his shirt. lie did the same with
the other and then fell back exhausted
from loss OF blood.
How long he lay there he scarcely
knew, but he was aroused by the sound
OF voices. The speakers were out Of
sight. behind little ridge, but they
were evidently coming nearer.
At first he thought IL his comrades
returning. After listening intently, he
was convinced il was Indians.
lie feared they might be unfriendly,
and it would not do to fall into their
hands. lie was at a loss how to escape.
Casting about, he saw large "buffa-
10 wallow," or sink, filled with coarse
grass. 1t offered the only hiding place,
and he commenced crawling toward it,
dragging his gun after him.
Every movement was attended with
the greatest pain, but after what
seemed an interminable time, he
reached the swallow" and concealed
himself in the high grass. 1t was half
full OF water. Into this he thrust his
fevered limbs, and found great relief.
He had scarcely accomplished this,
when the Indians came in sight over the
ridge. He saw at once, from the abb
sence of paint and feathers, that II was
not a war-party. They were Pawnees,
and he concluded they were after buff
faloes.
He was somewhat acquainted with
the Pawnee tongue, and had about de-
cided 10 reveal himself, when he was
arrested in his purpose by their words.
Heretofore he had not been able to UNI
derstand their conversation.
They were talking Of the outfit they
had seen in the valley. They knew some
OF the freighters were out after buffa-
loeS. but didn't know how many had
been left in charge OF the wagons.
Cheney Hattened himself to the
ground aud remained perfectly quiet.
He feared they would see the trail he
had made in crawling from the buffalo
to the sink, but they were so engrossed
in the discussion Of the outfit that they
were not very watchful. Besides, II
never occurred TO them that anyone
might be concealed in that little "buf-
ialo wallow"
When they came to the dead buffalo
they appeared considerably excited
They got Oft their ponies and one OF tn,
party took them back over the ridg,
and concealed them. Then they hic
themselves in the grass SO adroitly
that not sign of their presence wai
,-f.