262 



NEW LAND. 



set themselves up as targets. I see that I wrote in my diary : 

 ' So, then, all the giants and defenders of the herd were fallen, and 

 lay bleeding, with bursting eyes, in a steaming pool of blood ; 

 only a couple of young animals and five calves were left standing 

 inside the square, which before had been so strong. They stood, 

 trembling with fear, gazing at us out of their deep dark eyes.' 



It was not so horrible at first, when the big bulls out in the 

 square made their furious attacks on their assailants ; but as they 



'ON THE LINE.' 



were shot down one by one, and only the young animals and calves 

 were left standing alone in the middle of it, it was a dreadful sight 

 to look on at. .Round about them lay in heaps their friends and 

 kin, while the blood spurted steaming from their gaping wounds. 

 The nearest of the fallen animals lay so close up to the survivors 

 that the latter could hardly move. Terror was plainly written in 

 their beautiful beseeching eyes, and every limb shook with fear, but 

 to attempt to flee from their comrades no ; rather would they fall. 

 There lay twenty animals in a heap horrible riches that we 



