214 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



along a path made by the heavy beasts of the forest th rough a 

 neck in the hills ; and, emerging from the thicket, we beheld, on 

 the other side of a valley which had .opened upon us, a herd of 

 about ten huge bull buffaloes. These I 'attempted to stalk, but was 

 defeated by a large herd of zebras, which, getting our wind, 

 charged past and started the buffaloes. I ordered the Bechuanas 

 to release the dogs ; and spurring Colesberg, which I rode for the 

 first time since the affair with the lioness, I gave chase. The 

 buffaloes crossed the valley in front of me, and made for a succes- 

 sion of dense thickets in the hills to the northward. As they 

 crossed the valley, by riding hard I obtained a broadside shot at 

 the last bull, and fired both barrels into him. He, however, con- 

 tinued his course, but I presently separated him, along with two 

 other bulls, from the troop. My rifle being a two-grooved, which 

 is hard to load, 1 was unable to do so on horseback, and followed 

 with it empty, in the hope of bringing them to bay. In passing 

 through a grove of thorny trees I lost sight of the wounded buf- 

 falo ; he had turned short and doubled back, a common practice 

 with them when wounded. After following the other two at a 

 hard gallop for about two miles, I was riding within five yardj> of 

 their huge broad sterns. They exhaled a strong bovine, smell, 

 which came hot in my face. I expeced every minute that they 

 would come to bay, and give me time to load ; but this they did 

 not seem disposed to do. At length, finding I. had the speed of 

 them, I increased my pace; and going ahead, I placed myself 

 light before the finest bull, thus expecting to force him to stand at 

 bay ; upon which he instantly charged me with a low roar, very 

 similar to the voice of a lion. Colesburg neatly avoided the 

 charge, and the bull resumed his northward course. We now 

 entered on rocky ground, and the forest became more dense as 

 we proceeded. The buffaloes were- evidently making for some 

 strong retreat. I, however, managed with much difficulty to 

 hold them in view, following as best I could through thorny 

 thickets. Isaac rode some hundred yards behind, and kept shout- 

 ing to me to drop the pursuit, or I should be killed. At last the 

 buffaloes suddenly pulled up, and stood at bay in a thicket within 



