158 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



firmly curled-up tail on the situation, and awaited his 

 attack. When a couple of paces off he halted, and we stared 

 at each other, legs braced well up and eyepits distended : 

 then he quivered with rage; and, licking his lips, fixed 

 me with a glare, advanced a step or two with studied de- 

 liberation, suddenly lowered his horns, and rushed fiercely 

 at me. 



I met his charge with firm resistance, and our heads 

 came together with a crack ! It was now a question of 

 sheer weight and strength ; and, bracing my muscular 

 hams, I yielded not an inch. After some prolonged but 

 ineffectual efforts on the part of my antagonist, he sud- 

 denly bounded back in surprise and annoyance ; and we 

 again stood facing each other, nostrils dilated and flanks 

 heaving. Again and again he attacked me, with the same 

 result, to his increasing chagrin. Round and round he 

 fenced, and shoved, and slipped ; at length, being ex- 

 tremely short of wind, he halted to think, and, having 

 pondered, was moving back to the herd with what dignity 

 he could manage. 



But I had not quite done with him yet, and he only just 

 saved his bacon as I engaged him and forced him back ; 

 then with a fierce effort I bore him to his knees, and as 

 he leaped back, exposing his side, made a rapid rush, and 

 a despairing grunt left his panting throat as my horns 

 took him in the flanks. 



After this it was a mere pursuit. He never faced me 

 again as I chevied him over the fields. Then, the fire of 

 conquest burning in my eye, I left him disconsolately 

 gazing from a respectful distance, and stepped proudly 

 towards my does. 



When the moon rose late that night it disclosed the 

 dethroned one still following us ; but by morning he had 

 disappeared. 



I was now the master of a herd the ambition of every 

 right-minded buck and life passed, unmarked by episode, 



