A BEAUTIFUL STALK. 279 



Along this water-course, then, we went for a consider 

 able distance, stooping very low, when suddenly, to our 

 great chagrin, we found that in one of its detours it would 

 give the wind of us to the bisons instead of our having 

 their wind, and we came to a halt for deliberation. On 

 taking a very searching view of the land, we made up 

 our minds that the water-course deviated into a sort of 

 elbow, and that if we could cut off the bend, and get into 

 its course again, we should avoid giving our wind to the 

 game. Once more, then, we had to crawl with all possi 

 ble caution through the short grass of the higher land ; 

 again we succeeded in our endeavour, and found ourselves 

 a second time ambushed in the long grass. We were now 

 beautifully sheltered, as well as completely favoured by the 

 wind, when, arriving as we supposed within shot of the 

 buffalo, we ventured to look through the grass, but found 

 that we had not justly computed the distance. The bull 

 nearest to us was still too far off, but feeding towards us 

 and away from his companions, and absolutely approach 

 ing the ravine, along the course of which we were com 

 ing. The next time we halted to make a reconnaissance, 

 and before we were within shot, the immense beast came 

 up to the brink of the ravine, stepped into it, and, with 

 his head still in the grass at feed, absolutely progressed, 

 though very slowly, full on the line to meet us. Every 

 time we stopped for a few moments of rest anji observa 

 tion we could see, through the reeds and grass, the huge, 

 russet-coloured, conically-shaped hill of flesh right in front 

 of us, and evidently, but very gradually, coming directly 

 for the spot on which we lay. Occasionally the ferocious- 

 looking head of the bull would be lifted, chewing a 

 mouthful of grass, and while the jaws were so engaged 

 the ruffled and shaggy black face of the monster would 



