The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10

!
In the middle Of large plain three
black speeGs. which proved to be buf.
falo-old bulls. Our horses had come
y good distance. under a hot sun. and
as they had had no water except from
the mnd.hOle in the morning they
were in no condition for running.
They were not very fast anyhow: so.
though the ground was unravorabie.
we made up our minds TO Try TO creep
up to the buffalo. We left the ponies
In n hollow half mile from the game,
and started OF OF our hands and
knees. taking advantage Of every sage.
brush as cover. After a while we had
10 lie fat on our bodies and wrfgge
like SNAKES; and while doing this |
Numbered into a bed Of cactus, and
filled my hands with the sptnes. After
taking advantage OF every hollow.
htttOck. or snge-brush. we got within
about hundred and twenty-five or
fifty yards of where the three bulls
were uncOnsciously feeding. and as all
between was hare ground drew up
and fred. 1t was the first time ever
shot at buffalo. and, confused by the
bulk and shaggy hair of the beast.
aimed too far back ut one that was
standing nearly broadside on towards
nc. Tho bullet told on his body with
n loud crack, the dust flying up from
his hide; but It did not work him any
immediate harm. or In the least hinder
him from making Oft: and away went
all three with their tails up. disap-
pearlng over a slight rise in the
ground.
Much Disguised. we trotted back to
where The horses were ptcketed.
jumped on them, good deal ont Of
breath, and rode after the flying game,
We thought that the wounded one
might turn out and leave the others:
md so followed them. though they
had over miles start. For some
seven or eight miles we Ioped our
faded Horses along at brisk pace.
occasionally seeing the buffalo tar
ahead: and finally. when the sun had
! Just set We saw that nil three had
come to stand In gentle hollow
There was no cover anywhere neat
them: and. rs n last desperate resort.
ne concluded 10 try to run them Oh
our WORKOUT ponies.
As we cantered toward them they
faced uS for second and then turnc1
round and made Of. while with spnr.
and luirts we made the ponies put Oh
a burst tnat enabled us to close In with,
the wounded one just about the time
that the lesSening twilight had almosl
vanished: while the rim Of the full
moon rose above the horizon. The
| pony was on could barely bold It,
own. after getting up within sixty o.
seventy yards Of the wounded hull
my companion. better .Nounted, forRet
ahead. a little TO one Stue. The hui
saw him coming and Swerred from his
course and by cutting across ! was
able to get nearly up to him. TIL,
ground over which We were running
was fearful, being broken into holes
and bitches. separated by hillocks: In
the dull light. and at the speed W,
were going. no attempt could he made
to guide the horses. and the latter
tagged out by their cxertionS. founder
cd and pitched forward at every stride
hardly keeping their legs. When nj,
within twenty feet fired my rife. bH'
the darkness. aud especially the vio
lent, laborcd motion Of my pony. made
me miss: ftried to get In closer. whci,
suddenly Rp went the Bulls tail. md
wheeling. he charged me With lowered
horns My pony. frightened into mo
mentary activity. spun round AND
tossed up his head; was holding thn.
rife IN both hands. and the pony'e
head, striking It. knocked 1t Violent!
against my forehead. cutting quite
cash, from which! heated as was
the blood poured. into my eyes Mean
whlle the buffalo,, passing me, charged
my companion. and followed him as
he mmde or: and. rs. the ground was
very bad, for some little distance his
lowered head was unpleaSuMlS neaf
the tired pony's tail. tried to run In
on him again, but my pony stopped
short. dead beat; md by no squirting
CouIu IoESG' Hllu Ou( W SLOW IEOI
My companion jumped off and took
couple OF shots at the butfafo. which
missed IN the dim moonlight: and 10
our mutterable chagrin the wounded
bull hbored of and vanished In the
darkness. made after him on foot.
In hopeless and helpless wrath. untn
he got out OF sight,
So far the trip had certainly not been
a success. although sufficiently varied
as regards It's Incidents: we had been
confined to moist biscuits for three
days as our food; had been wet and
cold at night, amt sunhurned till our
faces peeled In the day: were hungry
and tired, and had met with bad wcath.
er. and all kinds Of accidents; In ad.
dftton to which had shot badly. But
a man who Is fond Of sport. and yet Is
not naturally good hunter. soon learns
that IL he wishes any success at all he
must both keep in memory and put In
practice Anthony I'rollope's famous
precept: Its logged as does It." And
II he keeps doggedly on in his course
the odds are heavy that in the end the
longest lane viii prove TO have turn.
I