1876 MUSK-OXEN. 133 



bellowing, and tearing up the ground with their fore- 

 paws. On our endeavouring to get on their flanks they 

 turned their front, pivoting round on their hind legs 

 and always keeping back to back with their heads 

 towards two out of the three of us. 



' As my hunting-knife and one of the men's alpen- 

 stocks were our only weapons, there appeared to be 

 little chance of my getting near enough to use the 

 knife so long as they kept in this position. 



' By the time we had approached to about five or 

 six yards we discovered that they were extremely sen- 

 sitive in the nose ; and after a few well-directed stones 

 the cow broke through our line and made for the hills. 

 We then closed on the young bull. Charging me he 

 also succeeded in escaping, and would have tripped me 

 up had I not jumped out of his -way, much to the 

 amusement of the men. 



' We then again surrounded them on the side of 

 the hill, flinging stones all the time ; when nearly close 

 enough for striking with the knife the cow charged 

 and three times forced me to retreat up the hill. 

 Finding that I could get out of the way pretty easily, 

 I felt more courageous, and at last, after a well-directed 

 shot with a stone, I managed to plunge the knife into 

 her side. She was round at once, but I managed to 

 keep above her on the hill-side, and following her up 

 struck her three more blows. 



'Although bleeding profusely I could not reach 

 her heart, so at the suggestion of one of the men we 

 lashed the knife on to the alpenstock. I felt con- 

 siderably more at ease with the lengthened weapon, and 



