102 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



but in the excitement of stalking them his rifle 

 went off, and so did the beasts. 



Having rested and refreshed ourselves, E 



an,d I, after taking a turn round, to see how the 

 men were getting on with the carcases, and 

 giving directions for preserving the heads, 

 struck into a thick wood, on the chance of 

 getting a shot at a bull. We had not gone far 

 before a red bull, ^ which had been lying down, 

 sprang up within twenty -five yards of us, and, 

 after running a short distance, turned and 

 stood at bay, as though contemplating a 



charge, and giving E a point-blank shot 



at his head. No result followed the shot, 

 beyond the speedy retreat of the bull ; perhaps 

 it was just as well he did so, for had he charged 

 us in such a place, surrounded as we were by 

 dense jungle, which would have retarded our 

 escape, though it would have offered no obstacle 

 to a heavy beast, we must have either killed 

 him or he one of us. On our return to the hut 

 we sent the meat down to the ship, and the 

 Doctor and C , with two bluejackets, also 



