74 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SHIKAR 



I turned for my second rifle, a '500 Fraser. Subrao 

 was standing close to me and handed it at once; 

 the other two men had disappeared. About half 

 a dozen bison galloped off into the thick jungle 

 ahead and the rest turned and raced past us again 

 at about fifteen yards. I fired at what I thought 

 was the biggest one, but they all went off and were 

 soon lost to sight. 



It was time to turn our attention to the fallen one. 

 He was watching us and in a fury ; he was not able 

 to use his hind-quarters, but rose from his knees 

 and stood, his head down, ploughing the ground 

 with his great horns, sending up clouds of dust and 

 grass and pebbles all round him. He would raise 

 his head again and again and look at us, furious at 

 not being able to come at us or defend himself. 

 He looked a grand beast as he stood tossing his great 

 head at us and then battering the ground again in 

 his rage. One realized what his onslaught might 

 have been if he had only had the use of his hind 

 legs too. I fired once more as soon as I could load. 

 Then, when I saw that he could not move, I went close 

 up to him, and Subrao with me, to finish him. He 

 fell over, but still occasionally tried to beat the ground 

 with his head, and it was difficult even then to find 

 the real vital spot and end it all. 



About this time the two local shikaris reappeared. 

 The khulgaur's off foreleg was sticking out stiffly 

 as he lay, and we measured with a bamboo from the 

 withers to the heel, and made his height 18 hands 

 2 inches. The outside measurement of the horns, 

 including^across the head, was 82 inches. 



