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



full height, had entangled his hind legs in the grass, 

 and he had fallen backwards without being touched by 

 the buffalo, although the horns were close into him. 



I was rather pleased at being so well out of this 

 scrape, and I made up my mind never again to follow 

 buffaloes into high grass. Turning towards the posi- 

 tion of the tent, I rode homewards. The plain ap- 

 peared deserted, and I rode for three or four miles 

 along the shores of the lake without seeing a head of 

 game. At length, when within about three miles of 

 the encampment, I saw a small herd of five buffaloes 

 and three half-grown calves standing upon a narrow 

 point of muddy ground which projected for some 

 distance into the lake. 



I immediately rode towards them, and upon 

 approaching to within sixty yards, I found they con- 

 sisted of three cows, two bulls, and three calves. I 

 had advanced towards them upon the neck of land upon 

 which they stood ; there was, therefore, no retreat for 

 them unless they took to the water. They perceived 

 this themselves, but they preferred the bolder plan of 

 charging through all opposition and then reaching the 

 main land. After a few preliminary grunts and tosses 

 of the head, one of the bulls charged straight at meat 

 full gallop ; he was not followed by his companions, 

 who were still irresolute ; and, when within forty yards, 

 he sprang high in the air, and pitching upon his horns, 

 he floundered upon his back as the rifle-ball passed 



