Sir Samuel Mbitc JBafeer 573 



declined this plan, as they rightly declared that the 

 ground was unfavourable, owing to the number of large 

 rocks, which would prevent them from getting out of 

 harm's way should the animal charge. 



It was ultimately arranged that Taher Noor, my i 

 Arab, was to lend me his sword, and that I was 

 go first, while they would follow with the ropes and 

 nooses, to endeavour to trip up the calf should it charge 

 past me. Taher Noor drew his sword. This was a 

 beautiful blade, that had belonged to his family, and 

 been handed from father to son for several generations ; 

 the cross hilt and fittings of the handle were solid silver, 

 also the knob at the end through which the tongue was 

 riveted. He cautioned me to beware of striking a stone, 

 and he evidently parted with regret from his familiar 

 weapon. 



The calf was about 3^ feet high, and was standing 

 by the body of its mother, evidently ignorant of her 

 death. As I cautiously approached it looked much 

 larger than when I had seen it at a distance, and I 

 began to think the Arabs were right in their conjecture. 

 There was not much time for reflection, for the young 

 tartar gave an angry shake of its ugly head, emitted 

 the usual three sharp whiffs, and charged at me as fast 

 as it could gallop. I jumped quickly backwards, by 

 a large rock, and it passed within 3 feet of me, but 

 immediately halted instead of continuing so far as the 

 spot where the Arabs were in waiting with the ropes. 

 It now turned round, and seeing me, it repeated its 

 charge in reverse, as hard as it could go. I again 

 jumped back, but as I did so, I delivered a lightning-like 



