WILD CATTLE. 15,1 



thicket of ' wait-a-bit ' trees. This bush generally puts a 

 prompt quietus on the most sanguine temperament. It 

 stands ' thick as hair on a dog's back,' about twelve 

 feet high, the straight stems from the size of a pipe-stem 

 to two inches in diameter. Lateral branches spring out 

 from every stem so thickly as to make a jungle almost 

 impenetrable even of themselves ; and when each is armed 

 with innumerable thorns bent like fish-hooks, sharp as 

 needles, and strong and tough as steel, it will readily be 

 seen that hunting in such a thicket is no sport. His 

 broad horns, thick hide, and immense strength enable 

 the bull to make his way through such a thicket with 

 ease and immunity. 



Suppose that, under cover of the noise made by the 

 bull, a hunter has overcome the natural difficulties of the 

 approach. Moving with the greatest care he finds him- 

 self within twenty feet of the unconscious animal. He 

 plainly sees the outline of his quarry ; but when he raises 

 his rifle he finds a thousand tough twigs and branches 

 between him and his aim, either of which is sufficient to 

 deflect the bullet from a vital part Suppose, however, 

 that an accidental opening gives him a good shot. He 

 knows that the chances are a thousand to one against his 

 bringing the animal down with one shot, and that the explo- 

 sion of the gun will bring the bull upon him in full charge ; 

 and this in a thicket through which the bull moves easily 

 and quickly, while he can scarcely move at all, and where 

 there is not a tree behind which he can take cover, or in 

 the branches of which he may find refuge. A man must 

 be endowed with more than the ordinary disposition for 

 getting into scrapes who would attack under such cir- 

 cumstances. 



Sometimes a bull may be caught feeding in an open- 

 ing of the chapparal. In such case, as he will not run 

 away, he becomes an easy prey, provided the hunter has 

 the wind, keeps perfectly quiet after his shots, and is so 

 covered by the thicket that the bull can see neither him nor 



