CHAP. i. BUFFALO. 61 



straight across. It struck me afterwards that I must 

 have made a considerable noise in the water, as it was 

 deep and rapid, and the slippery stones caused me to 

 make more than one heavy plunge ; but one is more care- 

 less when the sound of running water seems to drown 

 whatever noise you make, and on getting out I at once 

 clambered over the bank, not anticipating danger, but, 

 from the force of habit, with the gun at the charge and 

 ready for use. As my head rose above the bank the first 

 thing that I saw was the buffalo's horns, which instantly 

 disappearing, gave place to his tail. He had not turned 

 round, but, lowering his head while he raised his tail, was 

 in the act of charging. The distance was so short, scarcely 

 more than a yard, that I had no time to put the gun to 

 my shoulder, but, shoving it into his face, I pulled the 

 trigger, and threw myself headlong under a mass of those 

 water-loving bushes which may be found in Africa, as in 

 England, in the swampy places by a river's banks. It 

 was no good, though. He put his head through the 

 smoke, saw that I wasn't in the water, and turning round, 

 discovered me, and with a savage grunt again lowered his 

 head. Luckily for me I had thrown myself so far under 

 the thickest of the overhanging branches, that he was 

 forced to pull up, treading, however, as he did so, on my 

 leg, and striking me with his head high up on the thigh. 

 Then he retired backwards and charged again, not tread- 

 ing upon me, but again hitting me with his head, after 

 which he began poking me with his nose, trying his best 

 to shove me on against the branches, and so enable him to 

 get his nose under me, and allow him to raise me to a 

 height at which he could use his horns. He had already 



