286 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CJIAI-. 



that we h;ul just quitted. The nearest was about GO yards from 

 me, and with the '577 rifle I aimed at the root of the tail. As the 

 bullet struck within a couple of inches of the mark, this magnifi- 

 cent bull plunged heavily UJKNI the ground. The three remaining 

 buffaloes, all bulls, dashed through the shallow stream, and 

 struggled up the opposing bunk ; this was so steep that they 

 scrambled with the greatest difficulty, and no tame animal of that 

 weight could have accomplished the ascent. I had immediately 

 reloaded, and I took a lovely aim between the shoulders of each 

 bull, as it exposed itself to a deadly shot, almost perix-ndicidar, 

 within 70 or 80 yank' distance ; but I would not fire ; I had them 

 completely in my power, and that was sufficient. Buffaloes were 

 being destroyed wholesale, and I would not join in the brutal list 

 of destroyers. 



In the meantime this grand bull was sitting paralysed, with 

 the two hind legs stretched wide apart. It had attempted to move 

 down hill after the first shock of the bullet, and had managed to 

 slide itself for only a few feet forward by the action of the fore legs. 

 It was now upon its knees, struggling to rise, but completely help- 

 less in the hind-quarters. I called the attention of Jem Bourne 

 to the effect of the '577 solid bullet, and I told him to watch the 

 result of a merciful quietus, exactly through the shoulder-bone. 

 The bull fell over upon its right side, and never moved. 



I trust that I may not be considered hard-hearted in recounting 

 such shots in detail, and their results ; I do so in the scientific 

 interests of rifle practice, to produce examples of the actual 

 practical effects of certain weapons, used against particular 

 animals. Had I been as I was in my younger days, without a 

 life's experience, I could have shot thirty or forty of these splendid 

 animals with ease ; but from the moment of this first example I 

 determined to kill no more, but only to admire. In accordance 

 with this determination, I took great pains upon many occasions 

 to obtain a shot, and after long stalks, having obtained a magni- 

 ficent position, I raised my rifle, took a most deadly aim, and 

 touched the trigger, having carefully kept the rifle upon half-cock. 

 Away went the buffalo, to live for another day, instead of being 

 slaughtered uselessly, to rot upon the plains, or to be devoured by 

 wolves, or buried in the soil by bears. This sort of stalking 

 afforded me much pleasure, but it did not suit my American 

 attendant. u Well, if you came all the way from the Old Country 

 to shoot, and you won't shoot when you've got the chance, you'd 

 have done better to stop at home." This was the consolation I 

 received for my self-denial when sparing buffaloes. 



