578 ifctnas of tbe 1Rofc, IRffle, anb 6un 



well home before the bull again sprang forward. So 

 quick was it that I had no time to replace the ramrod, 

 and I threw it in the water, bringing my gun on full 

 cock in the same instant. However, he again halted, 

 being now about seven paces from -me, and we again 

 gazed fixedly at each other, but with altered feelings on 

 my part. I had faced him hopelessly with an empty 

 gun for more than a quarter of an hour which seemed 

 a century. I now had a charge in my gun, which I 

 knew if reserved till he was within a foot of the muzzle 

 would certainly floor him, and I awaited his onset with 

 comparative carelessness, still keeping my eyes opposed 

 to his gaze. 



At this time I heard a splashing in the water behind 

 me, accompanied by the hard breathing of something 

 evidently distressed. The next moment I heard B.'s 

 voice. He could hardly speak for want of breath, having 

 run the whole way to my rescue, but I could under- 

 stand that he had only one barrel loaded and no bullets 

 left. I dared not turn my face from the buffalo, but I 

 cautioned B. to reserve his fire till the bull should be 

 close into me and then aim at the head. 



The words were hardly uttered, when, with the con- 

 centrated rage of the last twenty minutes, he rushed 

 straight at me ! It was the work of an instant. B. 

 fired without effect. The horns were lowered, their 

 points were on either side of me, and the muzzle of the 

 gun barely touched his forehead when I pulled the 

 trigger and three shillings' worth of small change rattled 

 into his hard head. Down he went and rolled over 

 with the suddenly checked momentum of his charge. 



