64 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



advancing, keeping as much out of sight as possible, 

 scarcely speaking a word, and then not louder than a 

 whisper, the distance between the hunters and game 

 is rapidly diminished. From the nature of the ground, 

 no longer can they remain hid, so, taking their horses 

 well in hand, forward they dash, and, in a few strides, 

 what a sight is before them ! Cows, bulls, and calves, 

 all intermingled, forming a straggling drove of thou- 

 sands, heading in the same direction, and feeding 

 as they progress. Occasionally this harmony of action 

 is disturbed. Two ragged, clumsy-looking, veteran 

 bulls approach each other perhaps they have been 

 former rivals for some dusky-hided beauty's favours. 

 With a deep bellow one throws down the gauntlet, 

 which the other is not loth to take up ; and, 

 with fire flashing from their partially-hid eyes, each 

 rushes at the other ; but the herd have become 

 alarmed a foe equally dreaded by both bulls is at 

 hand ; their rencontre will brook delay to be settled at 

 a future date ; and, with a startled stare and toss of 

 the head, both turn and rush off after the herd, which 

 is already making a most hurried stampede. However, 

 when the hunters are old hands, the bulls might have 

 saved themselves the trouble : while young cow-beef 

 is to be obtained, none but the veriest novice would 

 think of wasting ammunition on their rough and 



