52 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. ltr. 



about ninety paces of them when suddenly the whole 

 herd of about two hundred buffaloes, headed by the 

 two bulls before noticed, dashed straight towards us at 

 full gallop. So simultaneous was the onset that it 

 resembled a sudden charge of cavalry, and the ground 

 vibrated beneath their heavy hoofs. Their tails were 

 thrown high above their backs, and the mad and 

 overpowering phalanx of heads and horns came 

 rushing forward as though to sweep us at once from 

 the face of the earth. 



There was not an instant to be lost ; already but a 

 short space intervened between us and apparently cer- 

 tain destruction. Our gun-bearers were almost in the 

 act of flight ; but catching hold of the man who 

 carried the long two-ounce rifle, and keeping him by 

 my side, I awaited the irresistible onset with the four- 

 ounce. 



The largest of the bulls was some yards in advance, 

 closely followed by his companion, and the herd in a 

 compact mass came thundering down at their heels. 

 Only fifty yards separated us ; we literally felt among 

 them, and already experienced a sense of being over- 

 run. I did not look at the herd, but I kept my eye upon 

 the big bull leader. On they flew, and were within 

 thirty paces of us, when 1 took a steady shot with the 

 four-ounce, and the leading bull plunged head-foremost 

 in the turf, turning a complete summersault. Snatch- 

 ing the two-ounce from the petrified gun-bearer, I had 



