Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-05-09

~ EFORE dawn had broken the
* clear bugle notes OF rcVeille
sounded and set the camp
- astir. BY the time the sun was
family tinging the edge Of the valley
we were drawn up for hot coffee and
the plain fare Of the prairies. a half
hour later the wagon masters called
Roll out! Roll outr' The bugles again
sounded for the troopers to take sad
die, and we We're under way once
more.
We had hardly gone five miles be-
yond the ruined station house when
we saw our advance men pull up and
raise their hands. We caught II also
the sound of approaching hoofs, and
all joined IN the cry. buffalo, Buffa
low
The thunderous rolling sound APP
preached, heavy as that of artillery GO
ing into action. We saw dust arise
from the mouth Of Il little draw on the
left, running down toward the valley.
and even as we turned there came roll
ing from its mouth, with the noise OF
a tornado and the might of a mountain
torrent a vast. confused. dark mass.
which rapidly spilled out across the
valley ahead of us. We were almost
at the TANKS OF the herd before they
reached the river bank We were
among them when they paused. The
front ranks rolled back upon those be-
hind, which. crowded from the rear,
tot l,N ~hnl., Of no
wrinkled up nightly. dark humps aris-
ing in some places two or three deep.
Then the entire mass sensed the dan
ger all ut once. and with as much una
nimity as they had lacked concert In
their late confusion, they wheeled
front and rear and rolled off up the
valley, still enveloped in cloud OF
white. biting dust.
In such a chase speed and courage
or ones horse are the main essentials.
My horse was able to lay me along
side my game within few hundred
yards. coursed close to a big black
bull and, obeying injunctions old Au-
berry had often given me. did not
touch the trigger until ! found ! was
holding well forward and rather low.
! could scarcely hear the crack Of the
rifle, such was the noise Of boots. but
| saw the bull switch his tail and
push on as though unhurt In spite Of
the trickle Of red that sprang on his
flank As | followed on, fumbing for
a pistol at my holster. the bull sudden
ly turned. head down and tail sllllly
erect, his name bristIin" My horse
sprang aside. and the herd passed on.
The old bull, his head lowered, pres
entity stopped, deliberately cycling us.
and a moment later he deliberately
lay down. presently sinking lower
and at length rolled over dead.
| found the great weight OF the bull
difficult TO turn. but at length hooked
one horn into the ground. and, laying
hold OF the lower hind leg, l actually
turned the carcass on its back
That's the first time ! ever saw
bull die on his back. said Auberry.
He did not die on his back" | re
piled. II turned him over"
"You did-and alonet It's rarely a
single man could do that. nor have
seen IT done in all my life with 50 big
a bull"
THE Indians don't bother 10 turn a
bull over. They split the hide down
the back and skin both ways. The
best meat is on top anyhow and then
he gave me lessons in buffalo values,
which later / remembered.
We had taken some meat from my
bull. since insisted upon It in spite
Of better beef from young COW Au-
berry had Filled not far above, when
suddenly | heard the sound Of bugle.
sharp and clear. aud recognized the
notes Of the recall"
What's upf" inquired Auberry az
we pulled up our galloplng horses near
yv1pHn limo