BULL SHOT BY THE PRINCE OF WALES. 167 



they might gallop off together, and retreat to the 

 heights of Eosscastle. Grreat caution was therefore 

 observed ; but at last the hunters found, on reaching 

 the end of the Fox Knolls, that the cattle had gone up 

 through that wood, and were all in one body at the edge 

 of the wood on the flat ground above. They once more 

 observed their pursuers, and moved a little higher 

 up. Driving, however, alongside of the wood, and 

 partly under its cover, the sportsmen got at last 

 within a reasonable distance of them. But unfortu- 

 nately the king bull, the object of pursuit, was 

 surrounded by the mass of his subjects, and there was 

 no possibility of getting a shot at him with any 

 probability of hitting a vital part. The herd made 

 several slight changes of place and position, but the 

 king bull still remained covered. At last he drew 

 himself out from among the herd and came to the front. 

 Soon afterwards he turned nearly broadside to the 

 hunters. In an instant the Prince fired, and the noble 

 animal lay dead upon the spot. The rifle bullet had 

 entered the neck at about six inches from the base of 

 the horn, cutting through the spine, and of course 

 producing instant death. 



The Prince, before firing, had left the cart, and 

 the keeper observed to me how amenable to dis- 

 cipline was the heir of the crown. Michie advised 

 the Prince to kneel on one knee, in order to take 

 more certain aim, and the advice was followed. This 

 has not always been the case, especially with foreigners, 

 whom Michie considers particularly indisposed "to 

 bend their knees." The Prince of Wales's shot was 

 unquestionably a most excellent one. The distance was 

 measured, and found to be seventy yards. The sharp, 



