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eventually got three more。
On another occasion the same two hunters nearly met with a frightful
death； being overtaken by a vast herd of stampeded buffaloes。 All the
animals that go in herds are subject to these instantaneous attacks of
uncontrollable terror； under the influence of which they become
perfectly mad； and rush headlong in dense masses on any form of death。
Horses； and more especially cattle； often suffer from stampedes； it is
a danger against which the cowboys are compelled to be perpetually on
guard。 A band of stampeded horses； sweeping in mad terror up a valley；
will dash against a rock or tree with such violence as to leave
several dead animals at its base； while the survivors race on without
halting； they will overturn and destroy tents and wagons； and a man on
foot caught in the rush has but a small chance for his life。 A buffalo
stampede is much worseor rather was much worse； in the old days
because of the great weight and immense numbers of the beasts； which；
in a fury of heedless terror； plunged over cliffs and into rivers； and
bore down whatever was in their path。 On the occasion in question； my
brother and cousin were on their way homeward。 They were just mounting
one of the long； low swells； into which the prairie was broken； when
they heard a low； muttering； rumbling noise； like far…off thunder。 It
grew steadily louder； and； not knowing what it meant； they hurried
forward to the top of the rise。 As they reached it； they stopped short
in terror and amazement； for before them the whole prairie was black
with madly rushing buffaloes。
Afterward they learned that another couple of hunters； four or five
miles off； had fired into and stampeded a large herd。 This herd； in
its rush； gathered others； all thundering along together in
uncontrollable and increasing panic。
The surprised hunters were far away from any broken ground or other
place of refuge； while the vast herd of huge； plunging； maddened
beasts was charging straight down on them not a quarter of a mile
distant。 Down they came！thousands upon thousands； their front
extending a mile in breadth； while the earth shook beneath their
thunderous gallop； and； as they came closer； their shaggy frontlets
loomed dimly through the columns of dust thrown up from the dry soil。
The two hunters knew that their only hope for life was to split the
herd； which； though it had so broad a front； was not very deep。 If
they failed they would inevitably be trampled to death。
Waiting until the beasts were in close range； they opened a rapid fire
from their heavy breech…loading rifles； yelling at the top of their
voices。 For a moment the result seemed doubtful。 The line thundered
steadily down on them； then it swayed violently； as two or three of
the brutes immediately in front fell beneath the bullets； while their
neighbors made violent efforts to press off sideways。 Then a narrow
wedge…shaped rift appeared in the line； and widened as it came closer；
and the buffaloes； shrinking from their foes in front； strove
desperately to edge away from the dangerous neighborhood； the shouts
and shots were redoubled； the hunters were almost choked by the cloud
of dust； through which they could see the stream of dark huge bodies
passing within rifle…length on either side； and in a moment the peril
was over； and the two men were left alone on the plain； unharmed；
though with their nerves terribly shaken。 The herd careered on toward
the horizon； save five individuals which had been killed or disabled
by the shots。
On another occasion； when my brother was out with one of his friends；
they fired at a small herd containing an old bull； the bull charged
the smoke； and the whole herd followed him。 Probably they were simply
stampeded； and had no hostile intention； at any rate； after the death
of their leader； they rushed by without doing any damage。
But buffaloes sometimes charged with the utmost determination； and
were then dangerous antagonists。 My cousin； a very hardy and resolute
hunter； had a narrow escape from a wounded cow which he had followed
up a steep bluff or sand cliff。 Just as he reached the summit； he was
charged； and was only saved by the sudden appearance of his dog； which
distracted the cow's attention。 He thus escaped with only a tumble and
a few bruises。
My brother also came in for a charge； while killing the biggest bull
that was slain by any of the party。 He was out alone； and saw a small
herd of cows and calves at some distance； with a huge bull among them；
towering above them like a giant。 There was no break in the ground；
nor any tree nor bush near them； but； by making a half…circle； my
brother managed to creep up against the wind behind a slight roll in
the prairie surface； until he was within seventy…five yards of the
grazing and unconscious beasts。 There were some cows and calves
between him and the bull； and he had to wait some moments before they
shifted position； as the herd grazed onward and gave him a fair shot；
in the interval they had moved so far forward that he was in plain
view。 His first bullet struck just behind the shoulders； the herd
started and looked around； but the bull merely lifted his head and
took a step forward； his tail curled up over his back。 The next bullet
likewise struck fair； nearly in the same place； telling with a loud
〃pack！〃 against the thick hide； and making the dust fly up from the
matted hair。 Instantly the great bull wheeled and charged in headlong
anger； while the herd fled in the opposite direction。 On the bare
prairie； with no spot of refuge； it was useless to try to escape； and
the hunter； with reloaded rifle； waited until the bull was not far
off； then drew up his weapon and fired。 Either he was nervous； or the
bull at the moment bounded over some obstacle； for the bullet went a
little wild； nevertheless； by good luck； it broke a fore…leg； and the
great beast came crashing to the earth； and was slain before it could
struggle to its feet。
Two days after this even； a war party of Comanches swept down along
the river。 They 〃jumped〃 a neighboring camp； killing one man and
wounding two more； and at the same time ran off all but three of the
horses belonging to our eight adventurers。 With the remaining three
horses and one wagon they set out homeward。 The march was hard and
tedious； they lost their way and were in jeopardy from quicksands and
cloudbursts； they suffered from thirst and cold； their shoes gave out；
and their feet were lamed by cactus spines。 At last they reached Fort
Griffen in safety； and great was their ravenous rejoicing when they
procured some breadfor during the final fortnight of the hunt they
had been without flour or vegetables of any kind； or even coffee； and
had subsisted on fresh meat 〃straight。〃 Nevertheless； it was a very
healthy； as well as a very pleasant and exciting experience； and I
doubt if any of those who took part in it will ever forget their great
buffalo…hunt on the Brazos。
My friend； Gen。 W。 H。 Walker； of Virginia； had an experience in the
early '50's with buffaloes on the upper Arkansas River； which gives
some idea of their enormous numbers at that time。 He was camped with a
scouting party on the banks of the river； and had gone out to try to
shoot some meat。 There were many buffaloes in sight； scattered；
according to their custom； in large bands。 When he was a mile or two
away from the river a dull roaring sound in the distance attracted his
attention； and he saw that a herd of buffalo far to the south； away
from the river； had been stampeded and was running his way。 He knew
that if he was caught in the open by the stampeded herd his chance for
life would be small； and at once ran for the river。 By desperate
efforts he reached the breaks in the sheer banks just as the buffaloes
reached them； and got into a position of safety on the pinnacle of a
little bluff。 From this point of vantage he could see the entire
plain。 To the very verge of the horizon the brown masses of the
buffalo bands showed through the dust clouds； coming on with a
thunderous roar like that of surf。 Camp was a mile away； and the
stampede luckily passed to one side of it。 Watching his chance he
finally dodged back to the tent； and all that afternoon watched the
immense masses of buffalo； as band after band tore to the brink of the
bluffs on one side； raced down them； rushed through the water； up the
bluffs on the other side； and again off over the plain； churning the
sandy； shallow stream into a ceaseless tumult。 When darkness fell
there was no apparent decrease in the numbers that were passing； and
all through that night the continuous roar showed that the herds were
still threshing across the river。 Towards dawn the sound at last
ceased； and General Walker arose somewhat irritated； as he had
reckoned on killing an ample supply of meat； and he supposed that
there would be now no bison left south of the river。 To his
astonishment； when he strolled up on the bluffs and looked over the
plain； it was still covered far and wide with groups of buffalo；
grazing quietly。 Apparently there were as many on that side as ever；
in spite of the many scores of thousands that must have crossed over
th