408 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



bad completely taken possession, devastating the rice, 

 and charging indiscriminately at all who approached. 

 A Baboo from the nearest police station had come out 

 a little while before to rid the place of the invader, but 

 contented himself with firing away all his ammunition 

 at half a mile's distance from the top of a house,' and 

 the bull remained monarch of all he surveyed. We had 

 scarcely entered on the plains when the owner of the 

 ruined rice-fields pointed out his enemy, looming out 

 against the horizon as large as an elephant, and we 

 at once made preparations for the attack. The place 

 was as level and open as a billiard-table, so we had 

 to rely on our rifles alone. We were both heavily 

 armed with two-ounce rifles, however, and several 

 smaller guns in reserve, so we marched straight on 

 the foe, with our very miscellaneous pack of dogs under 

 orders to be let go at the first shot. The bull and 

 his harem came boldly down to meet us, and as we 

 approached commenced his usual demonstrations to put 

 us to flight — pawing the earth with his feet, tossing his 

 mighty horns, and making short runs in our direction. 

 But we steadily advanced, and when within about 

 eighty yards separated a little, so that one should get 

 a flank shot, the full front of the bufi'alo being prac- 

 tically proof against lead. It was my turn for first 

 shot, and when about sixty yards intervened I knelt 

 down and brought the heavy rifle to bear on the point 

 of his shoulder. Crash went two ounces of lead, pro- 

 pelled by eight drachms of powder, against his tough 

 hide, and he fell upon his knees. Bang went several 

 more of our shots, and he stumbled off" dead lame and 

 very much crestfallen. Following him up with the 

 dogs, who were now baying round him, we overhauled 

 him in an open field, and repeated the dose again and 



