Indian Buffalo Shooting. 131 



hoisting a handkerchief on a long rod, C., in company 

 of about fifty Assamese, advanced. The object was to 

 drive the beast past me, and not to attack him, if it 

 could be avoided, in the open. I could soon see that 

 C. was ready to open fire, as the brute would not 

 budge an inch ; on the contrary stood facing the 

 crowd, shaking his head and horns and pawing the 

 ground with his fore feet. These demonstrations 

 were too much for the cowardly Assamese, for they 

 began to loiter, then to get together, and finally 

 halted. While the enemy's attention was riveted on 

 the concourse of people in front of him, I thought I 

 would steal a march upon him and take him from the 

 rear and flank so leaving my cover, I quickly advanced, 

 bidding my gun-bearer to keep close. I do not think 

 that the animal was aware of my approach until I 

 was within fifty yards of him and then, spinning 

 round, he charged at once, thinking, I suppose, that 

 two men were less formidable than half a hundred. 

 As he turned, C., who was only about forty yards off, 

 gave him two shots, well placed but a little too far 

 back to be mortal ; nevertheless they caused him to 

 stumble. I now fired at his chest ; his head was 

 down when I pulled the trigger. My first shot 

 caught him on the top of the nostril and went 

 through both jaws, my second taking him in the 

 breast. I had just time to seize my spare weapon 

 when a pair of formidable horns were all but around 

 me. The fiendish eyes glared with intense hate ; the 

 damaged muzzle and the pouring blood gave him a 

 diabolical look, and as he lowered his head with a 

 view of tossing me I gave him a shot in the head and, 

 springing aside, just escaped a vicious prod he made 



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