76 . WILD CATTLE. 



to take refucre in a tree from the assaults of a wounded 

 bull, Nvhich vents its ire upon his straw hat. Suddenly 

 a horse comes galloping past riderless. I recognise it 



at once as Colonel A 's horse : and as I look around 



I see that gallant officer himself taking long strides over 

 the ground, while close behind him is the patriarch 

 bull of the herd, whose anger has evidently been 

 aroused, ^yith head down and tail extended hori- 

 zontally, he plunged onwards ; while I, hastily loading 

 my rifle, dashed to my friend's assistance. Just as 

 the bull had so far gained upon his victim that I 

 expected each moment to see him tossed in the air, 

 the Colonel caught hold of a huge palmetto tree which 

 stood in the way, and whirled himself round its trunk ; 

 while the bull, with a loud roar, swept past, furious at 

 being disappointed of his expected sport with the 

 Colonel's bod}^ 



.. Again he turned to charge, and as he did so, I 

 seized the opportunity of sending one ball through 

 his skull, while another sank deep into his chest. 

 The negroes sang loud songs of triumph at the death 



of his foe, while Colonel A wiped the perspiration 



from his brow. 



The herd being thus scattered, we began to chase 

 the yearling calves, and this was quite as exciting a 

 sport, although a degree less dangerous. We caught 

 them with the lasso ; but it was no easy task to elude, 

 or parry, the fierce onslaught of these calves, which 



