176 Incidents of Foreign Field Sport. 



had even lain down in pools of muddy water. As we 

 advanced, the country became denser and the foliage 

 thicker, and eventually we traced them into a thorn 

 thicket where one could not see a yard ahead, so we 

 had almost to grope along by touch. We here separated, 

 but kept not far apart, for I took up the trail of one 

 portion of the herd, and he of the other. My com- 

 panion advanced much faster than I did, and in about 

 a quarter of an hour I heard two shots fired, right 

 and left, followed by a crashing through the thicket, 

 and not fifteen paces from me rushed past the whole 

 herd, at least so I thought. A grand old bull, in 

 colour resembling a gaur, brought up the rear. I 

 gave him two shots behind the shoulder, and then 

 hearing Buddrodeen's voice calling, I hurriedly re- 

 loaded, and went in the direction I supposed him to 

 be. I advanced very slowly and soon discovered my 

 guide lying along a bough, and with his hand irri- 

 tating a bull that had treed him. He was as cool as 

 a cucumber, although only just out of reach of the 

 enemy; still, by stooping forward, he could tickle, as 

 it were, the animal's head, when thrown upwards in 

 the vain attempt of getting at him. I had to circle 

 round, as only the hindquarters of the game was 

 towards me, and this was not an easy task, as I had 

 no wish to bring down on me the infuriated animal. 

 So it took me several minutes to get into position for 

 a broadside shot. The shikarie saw me, and irritated 

 the bull more and more, even taking off his turban 

 and flaunting it in his pursuer's face, so as to draw off 

 his attention from my approach. At last I could see 

 the shoulder, but there was no screen near to ward off 

 an attack if the bull charged ; so I pushed on further 



