chap. in. BRUSH WITH A BULL, 4 \ 



leaves of the trees which shaded us — and the whole 

 scene was that of undisturbed nature. The sun had 

 now sunk low upon the horizon, and the air was com- 

 paratively cool. The multitude of buffaloes enchanted 

 us, and with our two light double-barrels, we advanced 

 to the attack of the herd before us. 



We had not left the obscurity of the forest man) 

 seconds before we were observed. The herd started 

 up from their muddy bed and gazed at us with 

 astonishment. It was a fair open plain of some thou- 

 sand acres, bounded by the forest which we had just 

 quitted on the one side, and by the lake on the other ; 

 thus there was no cover for our advance, and all we 

 could do was to push on. 



As we approached the herd they ranged up in a 

 compact body, presenting a very regular line in front. 

 From this line seven large bulls stepped forth, and 

 from their vicious appearance seemed disposed to show 

 fight. In the meantime we were running up, and 

 were soon within thirty paces of them. At this dis- 

 tance the main body of the herd suddenly wheeled 

 round and thundered across the plain in full retreat. 

 One of the bulls at the same moment charged straight 

 at us, but when within twenty paces of the guns he 

 turned to one side, and instantly received two balls in 

 the shoulder, B. and I having fired at the same 

 moment. As luck would have it, his blade-bone was 

 thus broken, and he fell upon his knees, but recover- 



