AN ENORMOUS BULL. 239 



Emam the shikarie, to where Watson (my companion) had 

 shot a bull the day before ; we waited till near sunset 

 before entering the likely ground ; the wind was blowing 

 strong and the old man entered the valley down wind 

 very much to my surprise. I fancied I heard a bamboo 

 crack, and on looking in the direction saw a bison trotting 

 away, he had been feeding in a clump of bamboos about 

 fifty yards from us, but getting our wind took to his heels. 

 Old Emam was disgusted at his oversight, but almost 

 immediately spied another lying down in the middle of 

 a dense jungle of bamboos ; as Emam pointed him out 

 to me he rose ; he was about thirty-five yards off and 

 stood breast on. The bamboos were so thick and close 

 together that I could only see a great black mass ; I had 

 to guess where the middle of his chest was and let drive ; 

 down he fell on his knees, but instantly rose again and 

 advanced one or two steps towards us (Emam told me 

 afterwards that he was going to charge). I gave him the 

 other barrel and down he came again, but was soon up 

 again and began shaking his enormous head very in- 

 dignantly. I took my spare gun ; I was quite cool, so 

 much so that when I found I was not covering him 

 properly, I put it down and brought it up again and 

 fired. Emam declared I had missed; whether I did so 

 or not, it sent him to the right about and he bolted, I 

 gave him the other barrel and am certain I heard the tell, 

 but the bamboos were so close together that nearly every 

 shot had to cut its way through them. I reloaded as 

 fast as I could and dashed on after him ; we soon came 

 on his blood, and Emam pulling up said, " this is an immense 

 bison, if he charges get instantly behind a tree, or you 



