MY FIRST BISON A LUCKY SHOT 



controlling my longing to examine him, I waited for a 

 time. 



He looked monstrous as he lay, and even in death an 

 awe-inspiring sight, but this only enhanced my joy at 

 having conquered him, and proud of my achievement, 

 I shouted for the horsekeeper. I would have summoned 

 a whole village had there been any near, so elated did I 

 feel at my success and so anxious to proclaim it to the world. 



The man soon appeared in answer to my call, running 

 quickly and dragging the pony after him to its evident 

 annoyance. He had my camera slung round him, and 

 with it I took a photo of my prize, exactly as he had fallen, 

 and with the blood still pouring from his wounds. 



The first bullet had struck below the ear, and must have 

 proved fatal in the end ; but the second was through the 

 centre of the forehead, penetrating the brain a lucky 

 shot to which I probably owed my life ; for, fired more or 

 less at random, it might easily have struck a far less vital 

 spot, and thus given the furious animal time to wreak its 

 vengeance. 



However, " all's well that ends well," is a very true 

 old maxim, and one I quite agreed with as I contemplated 

 the fine head I had secured, and the only thought that 

 troubled me now was how to take it off. My hunting knife 

 was useless for the purpose, and the horsekeeper had nothing 

 more suitable about him. But presently he remembered 

 that there were some coolies working near, and suggested 

 that one of them might possibly have an axe. This 

 being the very thing I wanted, I sent him off at once, 

 and in the meantime I commenced operating with the 

 knife. An hour later he returned with the weapon and 

 half a dozen men. 



But even with an axe we found the task most difficult ; 

 however, we accomplished it at last, and then cut off the 

 feet, for I was anxious to possess as many trophies as I 

 could. The carcass I made over to the coolies, who had 

 now come up in scores, and fell upon it like vultures on their 

 prey. 



Despatching the horsekeeper and the coolies to the 

 bungalow with my spoil, I stood for a time watching the 

 curious spectacle of human beings fighting like wild beasts 



165 



