LUCK AT LAST WITH TIGER 111 



I neared the spot. What luck that I should have 

 gone in that direction ! as before I reached the 

 rock I saw a huge bull looking up at me in surprise ; 

 next moment I surprised him still more by getting 

 him fair behind the shoulder, and put a left 

 into him before he got out of sight. Then 

 followed ten minutes of the most exciting time 

 imaginable, as I followed hot on the bull's heels, 

 so closely it is a wonder he left me alone ; once 

 he certainly did meditate a charge, as, with much 

 noise and breaking of the undergrowth, he faced 

 round in my direction, but the Sholaga dragged 

 me behind a tree out of sight. It was getting so 

 dark that it was almost impossible to discern what 

 was animate and what not ; in fact, once when I 

 was uncertain as to whether the object I saw was 

 a rock or the bison, I deliberately broke some 

 sticks underfoot, knowing that if it was the 

 bison, he would move. The noise had the desired 

 effect and I fired. I think I fired three more 

 shots after the first left and right. For the last 

 shot it was so dark that I could not see the 

 foresight of my rifle and distinctly saw the flash 

 of the explosion. By this time we were quite 

 near to the road and we judged the bull had 

 crossed, so as it was too dark and dangerous to 

 follow on, especially as the direction led into 

 thicker cover, I decided to let well alone and take 

 up the tracks next morning. I found my syce 

 petting and stroking my Arab, as he was very 

 excited over the noise of firing. The groom 

 was a grizzle-bearded old Mahommedan of long 

 standing in my service, and thought nothing of 

 having to wait till dark for his master's arrival. 



