chap. in. THE FOUR-OUNCE DOES SERVICE. 53 



just time for a shot as the second bull was within 

 fifteen paces, and at the flash of the rifle his horns 

 ploughed up the turf, and he lay almost at our feet. 

 That lucky shot turned the whole herd. When certain 

 destruction threatened us, they suddenly wheeled to 

 their left when within twenty paces of the guns, and 

 left us astonished victors of the field. We poured an 

 ineffectual volley into the retreating herd from the 

 light guns as they galloped off in full retreat, and 

 reloaded as quickly as possible, as the two bulls, 

 although floored, were still alive. They were, how- 

 ever, completely powerless, and a double-barrelled gun 

 gave each the coup-de-gr&ce by a ball in the forehead. 

 Both rifle shots had struck at the point of junction of 

 the throat and chest, and the four-ounce ball had 

 passed out of the hind-quarter. Our friend of 

 yesterday, although hit in precisely the same spot, 

 had laughed at the light guns. 



Although I have since killed about two hundred 

 wild buffaloes I have never witnessed another charge 

 by a herd. This was an extraordinary occurrence, 

 and fortunately stands alone in buffalo-shooting. 

 Were it not for the two heavy rifles our career 

 might have terminated in an unpleasant manner. 

 As I before mentioned, this part of the country 

 was seldom or never disturbed at the time of 

 which I write, and the buffaloes were immensely 

 numerous and particularly savage, nearly always 



