Horns 



down, and Bishu went on ahead alone to ascertain 

 the exact whereabouts of the herd, and especially 

 of stragglers. He soon returned and told us to 

 take a rifle apiece only and come along, the rest of 

 the men being left behind. We followed warily 

 and very slowly in Bishu's tracks, and at last 

 approached near the edge of the forest, which 

 ended a little way up the opposite rocky slope 

 which was covered with stunted bushes and grass 

 only. The herd was scattered over this slope, and 

 was grazing slowly up it. As we came up we 

 could see several of the animals, but could not 

 distinguish the heads well. As we refused to fire 

 from where we were Bishu had perforce to take 

 us nearer, and he moved us round to a small 

 narrow glade which looked right out on to the 

 hill. We took up positions behind sal trees and 

 watched the bison. We soon saw that it would be 

 impossible to get a near shot. There was dense 

 grass and bush on the edge of the forest, then an 

 open space, and then more scattered bushes in 

 which the bison were. 



We could not advance a foot, and it therefore 

 meant a shot at at least 150 yards, and probably 

 over. I signalled to the Colonel to take the shot. 

 He refused, as I had expected, and then explained 

 that as he had with him only his 12-bore 

 rifle, it was impossible for him to take the shot. 

 I kept an eye on the bison all the time, whilst I 

 shoved my rifle towards him, but he, being the 



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