A QUICK SHOT 87 



Portsmouth's place in Scotland, on a huge scale. 

 I was only able to be out a very short time, as 

 again the rain came down in torrents. During 

 the whole of the ten days during which I was on 

 the top of the mountain, it never ceased raining 

 hard except on two mornings, and then for about 

 four hours only each time. One day was Wed- 

 nesday the 2nd, when I started off with Eraser 

 and young Vernede in the hope of getting a bison. 

 I was stiff with rheumatism, and of course crippled 

 owing to my knee, and even on the hill-top it was 

 very difficult for me to get about. 



After spying some little time we located a bull 

 bison down in the valley. He was at the edge of 

 the jungle, and it was quite hopeless for me to 

 attempt to go after him. Possibly a young and 

 very active man might, by running two miles, have 

 got round him before he worked back to the jungle, 

 but I doubt it, as the wind was against it. So in 

 despair I had to give him up. Presently, how- 

 ever, I made out another bison nearer and lying 

 down in the long grass. It was impossible to shoot 

 him where he was, and the wind did not admit 

 of my getting up to him, so we decided to wait 

 in hopes that he might graze up the hill towards 

 us, which bison not infrequently do. We came 

 away, as we thought it best to leave him severely 

 alone till he felt inclined to move of his own 

 accord, and as we crept away to the other side 

 of the hill-top, I caught sight of two points, 

 evidently of horns. I had my rifle in my hand, 

 and I made a rush forward and found myself 

 within 30 yards of a bull bison, three cows and 

 a calf. There was not a second to lose. They 



