Horns 



grass, and I at once guessed the reason. The 

 shikari Kanig was bolting for the forest and 

 safety, and though I was incensed I could not be 

 angry, because of course he was not aware of my 

 predicament, and my conduct to him must have 

 appeared absolutely inexplicable. His rush for 

 safety made matters ten times worse for me 

 though, as it gave the whole position away, or 

 very nearly so. I had cause to bless the fact that 

 I had left him several yards away on my right. 

 The bull now concentrated the whole of his 

 attention to this part of the grass, and I leant 

 back as far as possible, with one leg tucked under 

 me in such a position that in a very short time 

 I suffered excruciating agony from it, and 

 watched the bull. There was nothing else left 

 for me to do. I shall probably remember those 

 minutes as long as I live ! When the bison had 

 been 18 yards away I realized that if he saw me 

 matters would reach a climax at once. Now, 

 with him 50 yards away, I felt that the cards were 

 still all in his favour and the strain all on mine. 

 Suddenly, away to the right, on the edge of the 

 forest, I heard the sharp snap of a dead bamboo. 

 Round went the bull's head, and his gaze was 

 riveted on the spot. Could this be a diversion, 

 I thought, on the part of the other men ! But 

 it was not repeated. They were too frightened 

 themselves. It had helped, however, as the bull 

 had now two places to watch. My eye at this 



M 161 



