HUNTING THE BUFFALO. 457 



Henry weapon full against the forehead, causing no other re- 

 sult than some angry head-shaking. I then took Bill's 

 Spencer carbine, and fired twice with it. At each shot the 

 bull sank partly to his knees, but immediately recovered again. 

 I afterward examined the skull, and could detect no fracture. 



A person dismounted by accident or imprudence, and 

 charged upon, can avoid the blow by waiting until the horns 

 are within a few feet of him, and then jumping quickly on one 

 side. After the buffalo has passed, let the brief period of time 

 before he has checked his rush, be employed in traversing as 

 much prairie, on the back track, as possible, and the chances 

 are that no pursuit will be made. Should a foot trip, or a fall 

 from the horse give no time for such tactics, then let the 

 hunter hug Mother Earth as tight as may be. The probabili- 

 ties are that the bull can not pick the body up with his horns. 

 I have known a hunter to escape by throwing himself in the 

 slight hollow of a trail, and thus baffling all attempts to hook 

 him. 



Accidents are rare in bison hunting, however, and the 

 reader should not be deterred from noble sport by the mere 

 possibility of mishaps. I have given the above advice, feeling 

 that I shall be well repaid if it saves the life or limbs of one 

 man out of the thousands who may be exposed. A glimpse 

 of surgeon's instruments should not make the soldier a coward. 

 Comparatively few people are killed by electricity, and yet 

 lightning-rods are very popular. 



The hunter who has no love for the saddle, and prefers 

 stalking, should provide himself with some breech-loading 

 rifle or carbine, carrying a heavy ball the heavier the better. 

 The most effective weapon is the needle-gun used in the army, 

 having a bore the size of the old Springfield musket, and a 



