232 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



This proceeding on the part of buffaloes I have read of, 

 though it was the first and only instance in my own experience, 

 and as my suspicions were aroused, instead of making straight 

 for them along their spoor, I made a detour through the 

 low straggling bush and stalked up to a small tree within 

 60 yards of the clump they were in. At first I could see 

 nothing of them, the clump being too thick, but with the aid 

 of binoculars I made out part of the head and the outline of 

 the neck of one of them as it stood broadside on. Taking the 

 8-bore, I fired at the place where I thought his shoulder 

 ought to be, and he fell with a deep groan, which at first led 

 me to believe that he was either dead or dying. The other 

 one promptly floundered out of the bush and stood broadside 

 on, looking in my direction sufficiently long to enable me to 

 change rifles and plant a 4-bore bullet in his shoulder ; but it 

 was too high and too far back, and off he went. In the mean- 

 time the other one in the clump, after kicking and plunging 

 about, picked himself up and went after his companion, and as 

 I saw that he was very lame, I made so certain that he would 

 not go far that I did not fire at him again. Before following 

 them I took a hasty survey of the ground and found my 

 suspicions confirmed. They had returned on their own spoor 

 when I first saw them trotting back, and had I not seen them, 

 I should have followed up their spoor, which I found led close 

 past the bush they were in, and they might have made them- 

 selves disagreeable and taken me at a disadvantage. I then 

 hurried after them with the 8-bore, and, outrunning my gun- 

 bearers, soon overtook them, as they were both lame, getting 

 within 70 yards, when the one which had received the 4 bore 

 bullet, and was a trifle behind the other, evidently heard me 

 coming along behind him, as he whisked round and stood 

 staring at me, broadside on, whilst the other continued to re- 

 treat. Sitting down (my favourite shooting position, and as I 

 was much blown after my run with a heavy rifle), I took a 

 steady shot at his shoulder, and distinctly heard the bullet 

 strike, but it had absolutely no effect, and the beast never 



