258 BISON MARROW-BONES. 



and was making off when I gave him both barrels of my 12-bore. On 

 receiving these he changed his mind at once ; the poor beast was driven to 

 the last extremity of pain and rage ; he evidently felt that further flight 

 could avail him nothing, and back he came towards us to ■within twenty- 

 five yards, snorting with fear and pain. I was behind a tree which forked 

 near the ground, through which he could see me but coidd not get at me ; 

 so I reloaded my discharged rifle, without using my spare one, whilst the 

 bull stood where he was. I then gave him both barrels in the chest and 

 dropped him to his knees, but he rose again apparently quite bewildered. 

 Before I could fire he turned and got into a swampy place from which 

 he could not extricate himself on three legs, so I walked close up behind 

 him and brained him between the horns. This bull had come about six 

 miles on three legs. 



There was a nice stream flowing through the dark wood, and as the 

 luncheon-basket was brought up, with a towel and a dry flannel-shirt, I soon 

 made myself comfortable. I invited H. to have some luncheon, which he 

 consented to after some pressing. He took his plate to some distance, and 

 I noticed he soon discarded his knife and fork in favour of his fiuQ-ers ; he- 

 said he preferred " fisting it." Natives of all degrees in India use their 

 fingers alone in eating, and most poor Europeans and half-castes follow the 

 custom of the countrj'-. 



We cut out some steaks and tlie marrow-bones and returned to camp. 

 At night we roasted the bones in tlie camp-fire, and mixing red pepper and 

 salt with the marrow, scooped it out with bamboo-spoons, and ate it with 

 some toast I had reserved for such an occasion. I managed half a bone 

 with some difficulty, as the marrow was exceedingly rich, but H. not only 

 ate the other half, but had both the other bones ! I could not have be- 

 lieved it possible had I not seen something similar in Shdlagas eating a cup- 

 ful of honey without being sick. 



I was struck by the simplicity of H.'s camping arrangements at night. 

 In lieu of a tent he stretched his blanket over a horizontal stick on two 

 forked uprights, one end of wliich gipsy arrangement he plugged np with 

 thorny bushes, perhaps to prevent tigers dragging him out ! whilst his 

 legs and boots sticking from the other formed a prominent feature after he 

 retired. I offered him a corner in my tent, but he preferred his own 

 tenement. Poor fellow, he was very contented witli his style of life, and 

 I think he enjoyed the trip M-itli me ; I gave him a bottle of beer every 

 night, and other things whicli he never got in his solitary life. 



I bagged one other splendid old bull during this trip, a solitary animal, 

 and as large a one as I have ever shot. I liave since tried, without success, 



