SOME OF OUR PETS. 35 



similar manner by a wounded buffalo, owed his life to 

 a lucky stumble, which so astonished the animal that 

 he stood still for a few seconds staring at the prostrate 

 figure; giving the hunter time to get up and take refuge 

 behind a tree, from whence he shot his assailant. 



The most dangerous buffaloes are the old solitary 

 bulls which have been turned out of the herd ; they 

 become as artful and malicious as rogue elephants, and 

 often hide in the bush when they get your wind, to 



rush out on you unexpectedly. On another of T 's 



hunting expeditions, on the river Sabie, not far from 

 Delagoa Bay, one of the party was walking quietly 

 along with his rifle over his shoulder, when he was 

 suddenly attacked by one of these "rogues," and so 

 frightfully gored that for a time he was not expected 



to live. T started off at once to fetch a doctor ; 



and rode all through the night, steering his course by 

 the stars, to an encampment which most fortunately 

 happened to be within about thirty miles. It was that 

 of a party who were bringing up a number of mitrail- 

 leuses and other arms, taken in the Franco-Prussian 

 war and presented by Germany to the Transvaal Gov- 

 ernment. In the camp there were an immense number 

 of donkeys, which were used for the transport of the 

 guns ; and when one commenced braying, all the others 

 immediately following suit, it was a Pandemonium 

 which made night hideous indeed. On retracing his 



course the next day, accompanied by the doctor, T 



saw by the spoor that during that midnight ride he 

 had been followed by a lion. 



