74 BIG-GAME SHOOTING IN UPPER BURMA 



the experience was useful to me afterwards. 

 The tracker, erstwhile rather boastful, was now 

 humble enough, and assured me that he would 

 never run away again. As is generally the 

 way, he never had the chance; for the rest of 

 that shoot was a blank, and it was many a 

 long day before I again had the opportunity 

 of following bison. What had happened, of 

 course, was that my bullet had glanced off 

 the hard skull, the head being held high with 

 nose poked out, the ordinary attitude of the 

 Bos tribe when alarmed or suspicious. Could I 

 have seen to aim a few inches lower, I have no 

 doubt I could have found the brain by placing my 

 bullet a little below the eyes, as the nose itself 

 was invisible. I have since twice killed bison 

 by this shot, when the animal has stood with 

 nose poked out and the body has been hidden. 

 Now, here was a beast who had just received 

 a stunning crack on the top of the head and, in 

 spite of it, had pulled up to ascertain what had 

 caused it ! 



On another occasion I had knocked over 

 a very fine herd bull. He picked himself up, 

 and galloped after the herd. I legged it after 

 him at my best pace up a slight rise, and on 

 reaching the top saw the herd standing looking 

 at me some 200 yards off. But the bull was 

 not to be seen. Glancing hurriedly to the 

 right and left, I suddenly spotted my friend, 



