The Scalp Hunters | Page 8

There was an enchanting stillness in the air, broken only by
an occasional whine from the prairie wolf, the distant snoring of my
companions, and the "crop, crop" of our horses shortening the crisp
grass.
I lay a good while awake, until my cigar burnt up to my lips (we smoke
them close on the prairies); then, spitting out the stump, I turned over
on my side, and was soon in the land of dreams.
I could not have been asleep many minutes when I felt sensible of a
strange noise, like distant thunder, or the roaring of a waterfall. The
ground seemed to tremble beneath me.
"We are going to have a dash of a thunder-shower," thought I, still
half-dreaming, half-sensible to impressions from without; and I drew
the folds of my blanket closer around me, and again slept.
I was awakened by a noise like thunder--indeed, like the trampling of a
thousand hoofs, and the lowing of a thousand oxen! The earth echoed
and trembled. I could hear the shouts of my comrades; the voices of
Saint Vrain and Gode, the latter calling out--

"Sacr–r–ré! monsieur; prenez garde des buffles!"
I saw that they had drawn the horses, and were hurrying them under the
bluff.
I sprang to my feet, flinging aside my blanket. A fearful spectacle was
before me. Away to the west, as far as the eye could reach, the prairie
seemed in motion. Black waves rolled over its undulating outlines, as
though some burning mountain were pouring down its lava upon the
plains. A thousand bright spots flashed and flitted along the moving
surface like jets of fire. The ground shook, men shouted, horses reared
upon their ropes, neighing wildly. My dog barked, and bowled, running
around me!
For a moment I thought I was dreaming; but no, the scene was too real
to be mistaken for a vision. I saw the border of a black wave within ten
paces of me, and still approaching! Then, and not till then, did I
recognise the shaggy crests and glaring eyeballs of the buffalo!
"Oh, God; I am in their track. I shall be trampled to death!"
It was too late to attempt an escape by running. I seized my rifle and
fired at the foremost of the band. The effect of my shot was not
perceptible. The water of the arroyo was dashed in my face. A huge
bull, ahead of the rest, furious and snorting, plunged through the stream
and up the slope. I was lifted and tossed high into the air. I was thrown
rearwards, and fell upon a moving mass. I did not feel hurt or stunned. I
felt myself carried onward upon the backs of several animals, that, in
the dense drove, ran close together. These, frightened at their strange
burden, bellowed loudly, and dashed on to the front. A sudden thought
struck me, and, fixing on that which was most under me, I dropped my
legs astride of him, embracing his hump, and clutching the long woolly
hair that grew upon his neck. The animal "routed" with extreme terror,
and, plunging forward, soon headed the band.
This was exactly what I wanted; and on we went over the prairie, the
bull running at top speed, believing, no doubt, that he had a panther or
a catamount between his shoulders.

I had no desire to disabuse him of this belief, and, lest he should deem
me altogether harmless, and come to a halt, I slipped out my bowie,
which happened to be handy, and pricked him up whenever he showed
symptoms of lagging. At every fresh touch of the spur he roared out,
and ran forward at a redoubled pace.
My danger was still extreme. The drove was coming on behind with the
front of nearly a mile. I could not have cleared it had the bull stopped
and left me on the prairie.
Nothwithstanding the peril I was in, I could not resist laughing at my
ludicrous situation. I felt as one does when looking at a good comedy.
We struck through a village of prairie dogs. Here I fancied the animal
was about to turn and run back. This brought my mirth to a sudden
pause; but the buffalo usually runs in a bee-line, and fortunately mine
made no exception to the law. On he went, sinking to the knees,
kicking the dust from the conical hills, snorting and bellowing with
rage and terror.
The Plum Buttes were directly in the line or our course. I had seen this
from the start, and knew that if I could reach them I would be safe.
They were nearly three miles from the bluff where we had bivouacked,
but in my ride I fancied them ten.
A small one rose over the prairie, several