186 COMMENCING HOSTILITIES. 



having got the guns and everything ready for an en- 

 gagement with the buffaloes, I placed the shooting 

 irons in the bottom, and then sat down myself We 

 were off in an instant, these men sending the canoe 

 along like lightning. 



Having reached the forest tract, I was landed, and 

 keeping up a little so as to make the wind more 

 favourable, started for the edge of the wood, where I 

 hoped to find my friends. Moloka alone was per- 

 mitted to accompany me, carrying the breech-loader 

 and a spare gun, while I, as usual, determined to open 

 the ball with the gumtickler. On nearing the outside 

 trees I had the gratification to hear a short bellow. 

 Moloka and I looked at each other, both knowing 

 what it was. In a few seconds more I stood by a 

 stout tree within two yards of the open plain, and 

 within seventy yards of this splendid herd of buffalo. 

 Most of them were lying down, while some stood 

 sleepily, or nipped the green shoots of grass around. 

 As I looked at them two or three more lay down. 

 They were evidently afraid to go far from the forest 

 till the sun was lower. 



It was now about five o'clock, and as I had no time 

 to spare, I determined to commence hostilities at 

 once. The largest bull was lying down in the middle 

 of the herd, but several very fair ones were scattered 

 about. I was just going to fire at one which was 

 within something like eighty yards of me, and offered 

 a fair shot, when the same animal charged a young 

 and much smaller bull, nearly knocking him over. 

 Nothing daunted the " young 'un" came quickly to the 

 scratch, and both stood with heads lowered within 



