chap. v. THE FOUR-OUNCE AGAIN. j-j 



three hundred yards of them. I returned from the 

 plain with disgust ; but just as I was quitting the 

 shores of the lake I noticed three buffaloes in the 

 shallows about knee-deep in the water, nearly half a 

 mile from me. They did not look bigger than dogs, 

 the distance was so great. 



There is nothing like a sheet of water for trying a 

 rifle ; the splash of the ball shows with such distinct- 

 ness the accuracy or the defect in the shooting. It 

 was necessary that I should fire my guns off in order 

 to clean them that evening : I therefore tried their 

 power at this immense distance. 



The long two-ounce fell short, but in a good line. I 

 took a rest upon a man's shoulder with the four-ounce 

 rifle, and, putting up the last sight, I aimed at the 

 leading buffalo, who was walking through the water 

 parallel with us. I aimed at the outline of the throat, 

 to allow for his pace at this great distance. The 

 recoil of the rifle cut the man's ear open, as there 

 were sixteen drachms of powder in this charge. 



We watched the smooth surface of the water as 

 the invisible messenger whistled over the lake. Cer- 

 tainly three seconds elapsed before we saw the slightest 

 effect. At the expiration of that time the buffalo fell 

 suddenly in a sitting position, and there he remained 

 fixed, many seconds after, a dull sound returned to our 

 ears ; it was the ' fut ' of the ball, which had 

 positively struck him at this immense range. What 



