ADVENTURE WITH BUFFALO 95 



breaking of branches in the scrub, and the next moment 

 the wounded buffalo burst through about ten yards 

 away, and charged with outstretched nose and head 

 thrown back. Polly, who, as I have already said, 

 was walking in front of Cameron, promptly threw him- 

 self flat on the ground, getting out of the line of the 

 charge as much as possible. The enraged animal, 

 dashing over him without even attempting to make 

 a passing lunge with its horns, rushed at Cameron. He 

 was taken by surprise ; nevertheless, he was quick 

 enough to be able to raise his rifle and press the 

 trigger when a couple of yards still separated him 

 from the buffalo. The hammer failed, however, to 

 respond. Like a flash he realized that his rifle was on 

 the ' safety,' but he could do no more than mentally 

 grasp the situation ; he had no time to slide the stop, 

 for the buffalo's massive horns were about to strike. 

 Throwing himself to one side, he luckily escaped the 

 full sweep of the deadly horns, but could not quite save 

 himself ; the rounded elbow of the right horn struck 

 him on the side and sent him sprawling in the grass, 

 at right angles to the direction in which his rifle was 

 hurled. He was hardly down when the buffalo was 

 upon him, with heaving sides, fierce, glaring eyes, and 

 white, frothy saliva dropping from its mouth. 



How it happened neither Cameron nor Polly could 

 exactly say, but the fact remains that after the buffalo 

 had dealt him a couple of vicious blows Cameron 

 managed to throw his arms round its short forelegs 

 and draw himself close under its broad chest, retaining 

 his hold with wonderful strength and pluck. Cameron 

 is a well-built Scotsman, about 5 feet 1 1 inches in 

 height, and, although somewhat stout, is strong. Do 



