SEVENTEENTH OF MAY. 377 



a steady hand, so that each bullet might find its billet ; otherwise 

 things might go wrong. It was not possible to aim at the oxen, 

 so I had to take what I could get. At the same moment that one 

 of the cows was lifting her head I fired, and the animal fell dead 

 to the ground. I had to wait before I could sight for the next, 

 and the barrel of my gun was pointed in divers directions before 

 the right moment came. Then there was a report, and the animal 

 remained lying on the spot. 



The skirmish with the dogs was becoming hotter and hotter 

 every moment, and the herd now scattered and rushed after them 

 like infuriated devils. I was already beginning to grow used to the 

 idea of losing the dogs, or, at any rate, of their being so mutilated 

 that I should have to make an end of them ; and I was very 

 sorry I had not \vaited to take off their harness and traces. 

 The oxen kept treading on the lanyards, the dogs were thrown 

 over, and their pursuers were able to get hold of them and toss 

 them. Not one of the dogs escaped being repeatedly sent several 

 yards into the air. 



I stood long, pointing my rifle east and west, before I could 

 get a shot at the two oxen which had been the first to take up 

 battle ; but when I saw my opportunity I gave one a shot in the 

 middle of the head, which dropped it on the spot. But I had still 

 the worst of the beasts to tackle the big bull, which had been 

 the first to leave the square. Compared with him, the others were 

 not in it ; he had literally run amuck. 



At last he came towards me, and I was able to aim, although 



' ' O 



he did not lift his head as high as he might have done. All I 

 could do was to try. I gave him a good reminder, and the steam 

 gushed out through the wound in his forehead. He then thought 

 the time had come to bethink himself a little, fell on his knees, 

 and so remained for a while. Possibly he came to the conclusion 

 that the shot had passed under the brain, for he sprang up, and 

 went after the dogs with perfect Berserker fury. I expected to 

 see daylight through them very quickly after this. The bull 

 seemed to be possessed with the Evil One himsej.f, and less 

 thorough-paced dogs than mine would have been mortally wounded, 

 instead of getting off with some gashes and scratches. 



