216 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



suddenly, and began pawing the ground, and threw 

 up great tufts of grass and earth with side thrusts 

 of his wide-spreading horns. There was an imme- 

 diate scramble for guns, as we knew what that 

 meant, and we hoped to be able to turn him with 

 a well-directed shot before he wrecked our tents 

 and furniture. We had not been a minute getting 

 our guns, and had rushed out, momentarily 

 expecting the buffalo to charge, when a strange 

 sight presented itself. As if by magic, the bull 

 was surrounded by a pack of fourteen dholes. 

 They did not appear to be larger than half-grown 

 setter puppies, and looked even smaller by the 

 side of the great brute they had surrounded. How 

 they were going to attack this enormous creature, 

 or what chance they could have against its for- 

 midable horns and giant strength, we were curious 

 to know, and watched the scene with great interest. 

 The dogs took not the slightest notice of us, but 

 kept circling round and round the buffalo and 

 avoiding his charges with great skill. We soon 

 noticed that all their feints of attack were directed 

 to one side, so as to draw him into some low 

 brushwood to the south of the glade. Our shika- 

 rees said this manoeuvre to get their victim among 

 the brushwood was for the purpose of blinding 

 him ; the dogs would micturate on the bushes, and 

 then, when he charged with lowered head, their 

 acrid urine on the leaves would get into his 

 eyes and cause great irritation, so that he would 

 be partially blinded, and they could attack him 

 without fear. Sure enough, in a little time the 



