A SURVEYOR'S LIFE, AND SHOOTING. 267 



of retreat; for that I was too far forward on the plateau, and 

 should be overtaken long before I reached halfway to the cliff. 

 There was nothing for it but to try and make a stand ; to be 

 carried with them would bring certain destruction. Up came my 

 carbine, a report, a trembling of the ranks, and an animal fell ; 

 the others at once closed up, and so far from the attack diminishing 

 in force and fury, it seemed rather to increase. To continue 

 shooting and trying to defend myself with the carbine would have 

 been downright madness. I had only two shots left ; and one 

 need not have had much to do with polar oxen to know that one 

 must be exceptionally lucky to bring two animals to the ground 

 with two shots when the herd is advancing at full gallop. And 

 even were I lucky enough to bring off two such master shots, it 

 would hardly affect the herd to any appreciable extent. Well, 

 there was no time for prayer or reflection ; if this was to be the 

 end, then, in Heaven's name, let me rush into it instead of stand- 

 ing still, for by doing this I should, without doubt, only be carried 

 with the oxen. I would not give much for what is left of a person 

 when a herd of these animals has done with him. No, either 

 there should be an end at once, or the polar oxen should let me 

 through; so, with a horrible yell, and waving my arms all I 

 knew, I charged the line. This manifestly did some good, for, as 

 I came nearer, I saw the rank open, and I ran straight through it. 

 The nearest animals were certainly not a yard from me. I was 

 thus saved from the first shock, but I was still up on the plateau, 

 and this was no abiding place for me. No ; better make my way 

 back to the cliff, and try to get across the bed of the stream again. 

 But before I had time to think which was the shortest way, I had 

 the whole herd, which had wheeled round, in line coming towards 

 me again. I had succeeded in impressing them once, so I sup- 

 posed I could do it again, and, with my former war-cry, I once 

 more charged the line. As before, the ranks opened, and I slipped 

 through unscathed. In the rush of it all I had managed to make 

 out that the shortest way to the cliff was the way I was going, and 

 I continued to run on. 



'Again the oxen wheeled round; this time, however, they did 

 not come in line, but in herds of five or six, and, what was worse, 



