A BISON- HUNT. 385 



them should be brought to bay. A bull made off up a hill by himself, 

 with the finders after him, and they badgered him so much that he soon 

 stopped to fight, whereupon the seizers were taken forward and slipped. I 

 came in view just in time to see Bill Sykes fix on to the bull's nose, when 

 he turned and thundered down the hillside past myself and men, at a pace 

 which was astonishing in so heavy a beast. Bill Sykes of course hung on, 

 though he was carried through two or three thick places where any but a 

 most determined dog would have been swept off. He was a model seizer; 

 he always went in straight, and never waited for a more favourable oppor- 

 tunity, nor the assistance of the other dogs. Dogs may be sacrificed by 

 this reckless courage on occasions, but the general safety is best insured by 

 all going in without hesitation, and holding on under any punishment. 

 How often curs with just enough pluck to make them take a snap or 

 two are killed by going within reach of a dangerous animal, whereas dogs 

 that fix and hold render the beast comparatively harmless. Seizers should 

 act by nature on the tactics recommended by Nelson to his young officers 

 in their dealings with the enemy : " Never mind manoeuvres ; always go at 

 them." 



The other dogs did not get a chance till the bull was at the bottom 

 of the hill, when they sprang at his head one after another as they came 

 up, and pulled him down. They kept his nose to the ground whilst he 

 bellowed with fright and pain, and made but poor attempts to gore them 

 with his horns. Thus a few dogs prove more troublesome assailants to a 

 bison than a tiger does, as the latter, from his size, can be more easily tossed 

 or trampled on. 



It is difficult to keep seizers in good working condition as to their 

 wind ; they soon become blown, as they cannot have sufficient practice. 

 On this occasion (I finished the bull with a shot through the neck), they 

 were so exhausted by their worry when we got them off, that they lay 

 around, casting longing glances at the dead bull as they gasped almost to 

 choking from the heat and exertion, but unable to get up, though anxious 

 to attack him again. I was really frightened at Bismarck's condition ; 

 his tongue was purple, and swelled to an enormous size, and he gasped 

 in a manner which made me think he would choke. Fortunately we 

 were not far from a stream, whither we hurried with him and the other 

 seizers in our arms, and soon restored them by sousing their heads with the 

 cool water. They were kept in the shade till the cool of evening, whilst 

 we skinned and cut up the bison, and packed part of it on the elephant. 

 The dogs were fed with roasted collops off the bull, and none of them 

 were seriously the worse for such bruises as they had received. 



2 B 



