THE BUFFALO 



following wounded beasts. A flank charge at close 

 range may catch the most experienced man; and 

 even when clearly seen, it is difficult to stop. The 

 buffalo's wide bosses are a helmet to his brain, and 

 the body shot is always chancy. The beast tosses 

 his victim, or tramples him, or pushes him against 

 a tree to crush him like a fly. 



He who would get his trophy, however, is not 

 always perhaps is not generally forced into 

 the thicket to get it. When not much disturbed, 

 buffaloes are in the habit of grazing out into the open 

 just before dark; and of returning to their thicket 

 cover only well after sunrise. If the hunter can ar- 

 range to meet his herd at such a time, he stands a 

 very good chance of getting a clear shot. The job 

 then requires merely ordinary caution and ma- 

 noeuvring; and the only danger, outside the ever- 

 present one from the wounded beast, is that the 

 herd may charge over him deliberately. Therefore 

 it is well to keep out of sight. 



The difficulty generally is to locate your beasts. 

 They wander all night, and must be blundered upon 

 in the early morning before they have drifted back 

 into the thickets. Sometimes, by sending skilled 

 trackers in several directions, they can be traced to 

 where they have entered cover. A messenger then 

 brings the white man to the place, and every one 



339 



