110 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
There are numerous herds of wild cattle in these mountainous 
regions, which have never been hunted or molested bj man, 
until since the discovery of gold, and even now their wildness 
and impetuosity render their capture extremely uncertain and 
perilous. The mountaineers, who always carry their lives in 
their hands and court danger in every form, are extremely loth 
to attack a wild bullock, even when well armed and mounted. 
The grizzly bear is a universal terror, and is rarely molested 
by experienced hunters, yet their capture is thought less peril¬ 
ous than that of a wild bullock, for these when wounded become 
frantic, and nothing can withstand them. Mr. Lewis, a neigh r 
bor who had gained a notoriety by his success in hunting the 
grizzly bear, having captured two in one day, and several others 
at different times, all through the fleetness and superior training 
of his mule, resolved to make an attempt upon a herd of wild 
cattle that were in the mountains not far distant. He considered 
his mule equal to any emergency, and having a rifle that plainly 
spoke for itself, he started on his perilous adventure. He found 
the herd feeding in a ravine, and approached very near before 
they eyed his mule with suspicion. They seemed quite uncon¬ 
scious of approaching danger, until one of them, catching the 
scent of the foe, threw up his head, gave the peculiar signal, and 
all were in motion; at this instant the rifle was discharged, the 
ball taking effect in the.neck of one of the bullocks, bringing 
him upon his knees; he immediately recovered, and wheeling 
about, bounded with headlong speed in the direction of the mule. 
The moment was a critical one, the mule under the sting of the 
spur was doing his utmost, the bullock in hot pursuit, his eyes 
flashing fire, his tongue hanging from his mouth, the U^od 
streaming from his nostrils, and he foaming and bellowing with 
the most terrific fury, gaining upon his adversaries at every 
bound. At length, he was upon them, the rider seeing no 
other alternative, caught the limb of a tree Jetting the mule 
pass on. The next bound, however, was his last, for the bul¬ 
lock overtaking him, struck him in the side bringing him to the 
ground, and after goring him several times, bounded away in 
the direction taken by the herd, and soon disappeared. Upon 
visiting the location of the above-described occurrence a few 
days thereafter, in passing through a slight gorge, I came upon 
