XV BISON, BEAR, AND ELEPHANT 171 



caught our wind, would blunder off like an express 

 train. 



This trip was not a success, and it culminated 

 in a bad a^air. We had stalked up to a herd who 

 were above us. They suddenly came down on 

 us at speed in close order. I do not think they 

 were charging ; they were frightened and bolting. 

 It is easy to be wise afterwards. Anyhow, I fired 

 right and left to turn them, and killed a cow 

 and a young bull. The herd went past on both 

 sides of us. The cow was dead, but I had to 

 fire again into the youngster. 



I stopped shooting at once after this, and 

 reported to the Resident, through whom my 

 father had got leave for me to shoot. 



I had the hardest day I have ever had getting 

 back to Ooty — a 75-mile bicycle ride, which in- 

 cluded the Segur Ghat, a climb of several thousand 

 feet. Heavy rain was falling ; the road had 

 been newly metalled. The brakes of the bicycle 

 jammed with mud and gravel, and I had to 

 carry it most of the way up. I lay down on the 

 road in the rain every now and then, and was 

 more glad than I can say to get to my father's 

 house at 10 p.m. We all had several bouts of 

 fever after that trip, and my servant died of it. 

 Our food had been short, and the stream from 

 which we drank was bitter with vegetation. 



I went no more after bison until 1921, when 

 the Jaghirdar of Y. very kindly gave me leave 

 to shoot. This jaghir was given to the present 

 owner's ancestor by the British, after the death of 

 Tippoo Sultan. 



I killed one bison at 120 yards ; an easy shot 



