122 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. vi. 



upon the branch of a tree, and gave him a shot from 

 the four-ounce rifle through the shoulder. This sent 

 him to the thick jungle with ears and trunk drooping, 

 but produced no other effect. I therefore returned 

 towards the tent, fully expecting to meet my old enemy, 

 the bull, whom I had left master of the field. In 

 this I was not disappointed ; he was standing within a 

 few yards of the same spot, and, upon seeing me, he 

 immediately advanced, having a very poor opinion 

 of an enemy who had retreated from him an hour 

 previous. 



Instead of charging at a rapid pace he trotted 

 slowly up, and I gave him the four-ounce when within 

 fifty yards. This knocked him over ; but, to my 

 astonishment, he recovered himself instantly and 

 galloped towards me. Again he stopped within twenty 

 yards of me, and it was fortunate for me that he did ; 

 for a servant who was carrying my long two-ounce rifle 

 had, in his excitement, cocked it and actually set the 

 hair-trigger. This he managed to touch as he handed 

 it to me, and it exploded close to my head. I had 

 only a light double-gun loaded, and the buffalo was 

 evidently prepared to charge in a few seconds. 



To my great satisfaction I saw the bloody foam 

 gathering upon his lips, and I knew that he was struck 

 through the lungs ; but, nevertheless, the distance was 

 so short between us that he could reach me in two or 

 three bounds. Keeping my Moorman with the lipht 



