CHAP. i. BUFFALO. 59 



yards, it being quite uncertain what one may meet or 

 see even in so short a distance, and it therefore becomes 

 as natural to carry a gun as to put on a cap when going 

 out. On this occasion, then, though only going to bathe 

 some fifty yards from where a campful of people were 

 assembled, I was both accompanied by a boy and carried 

 my gun ; but on arriving at the place, finding that I had 

 forgotten to bring any soap, I sent him back for some, 

 and in the meantime sat down to wait for his return. He 

 had not been gone half a minute when I heard the chirp- 

 ing of some rhinoceros-birds within a few yards of me in 

 the reeds, and thinking that they were probably settled 

 on a water-antelope, I went in towards them, and in three 

 or four minutes came upon a buffalo so standing across 

 one of the game-paths as to present me with its shoulders, 

 while the other parts of its body were concealed. I made 

 a careful shot, to which he feh 1 ; but before the smoke 

 cleared he rose and made off, and I, after reloading, took 

 up the spoor, which I found all covered with blood. It 

 took me a long time to come up with him again, although 

 he had not gone far, but the reeds were thick, and I had 

 to be very careful in going through them for fear of noise. 

 At last I saw him about three yards off, half-facing me, 

 and instantly fired at the point of his shoulder. He, how- 

 ever, noticed me as I pulled the trigger, and charged, and 

 I only escaped by a couple of feet or so, he passing me 

 within that distance. People not accustomed to positions 

 of this kind may very naturally ask why I did not use 

 my second barrel ; but a very li ttle experience of buffalo- 

 charging soon teaches the absurdity of attempting to do 

 more than avoid the first rush, which is made so instan- 



