52 TWENTY YEARS AGO 



had been unwittingly aimed at the flank, for I 

 had not realised what an enormous animal 1 

 had to deal with. It had, as a matter of fact, 

 smashed the stifle, and I suppose it was this 

 that discouraged the beast from charging, for 

 from what I have read since of bison-shooting 

 few bulls die as pacifically as mine. The 

 second shot broke the spine ; and so, when 

 the beast reappeared, he was really sitting 

 up, and his bellow was an empty menace, 

 for he could not have moved. The last shot 

 penetrated the brain and came out at the 

 back of the head. 



That night my two heads were packed up, 

 and the shikari well rewarded. The next 

 morning saw me en route for the coast. We 

 sailed that night, but passed the next day 

 loading and discharging cargo at another 

 small port, so only reached Point dc Galle 07i 



