CHAP. I. BUFFALO. 49 



Leaving the hunter loading, I ran on, and getting to a small 

 tree some twenty yards off, from which I could see it, I fired 

 both barrels at its shoulder, the second bringing it to its 

 knees. The dogs soon roused it from this position however, 

 and as 1 was in my turn loading (I had a muzzle-loader, my 

 breech-loader being out of order), my hunter came up, and 

 on my pointing out the animal, passed on. He had almost 

 reached the small tree for which he was making when it 

 caught sight of him, and at once made a determined charge ; 

 he knelt down, and, levelling his big elephant-gun, waited, 

 with a coolness and pluck that would have done credit to 

 any European, till the animal was positively within a yard 

 of him — until, indeed, it lowered its head, which a buffalo 

 never does until it is almost within striking distance of its 

 enemy — and then fired, at the same time bounding with 

 wonderful activity on one side, while his adversary, struck 

 in the centre of the forehead, fell lifeless on the spot. 



On counting the bullet-marks we found five fresh, 

 exclusive of the last, four of mine and one other, and no 

 less than four old wounds partially healed, at once account- 

 ing for the bad temper the brute had displayed. On cut- 

 ting it up we also found three of the old bullets, one of 

 which, seemingly of eight to the pound, had passed through 

 from side to side and stuck in the skin. It had probably 

 been severely wounded in the first instance by that very 

 ball, and after being followed up, and three more put in it, 

 had succeeded in making good its escape for the time. 



It would be incorrect to describe the buffalo as the 

 most dangerous of all African game, though it has been 

 stated to be so, and several authors, principally those 

 accustomed to shoot from horseback, and to whom the 



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