THE BUFFALO. 403 



a reckless thing to do in such a spot. We were up to our ankles 

 in mud, and the overhanging reeds, nearly meeting overhead, 

 made it very dark. I had only taken four or five paces, and was 

 in a cramped position, hstening as I took each step, and straining 

 my eyes to catch a glimpse of the deer's hide, when there was a 

 crash in the jungle close to me, and before I could turn to my 

 right and bring the muzzle of my rifle to bear, in a second of time 

 I was hurled to the ground with astonishing quickness by a 

 tremendous butt in the right shoulder, followed by a pair of huge 

 knees on my chest crushing me down. My rifle had been sent 

 flying out of my hand at the first shock, but had I retained 

 possession of it, it could not have assisted me in the least. My 

 companion was close behind me at the time, and I called out twice 

 to him in Hindustani to fire, but he rendered me no assistance in 

 the hour of need. The buffalo commenced butting me with his 

 huge head ; I was covered with foam from his vile mouth. Most 

 luckily the ground was very soft or I must have been killed. I 

 had fallen on my back, but managed by clutching the root of a 

 small tree to draw myself from under him, but as I did so and 

 turned over, he struck me a terrible blow on the back with his 

 foot, breaking two ribs, and then I was powerless and imagined 

 all hope of escape to be over. 



" He gave me a bad wound on the left arm, another dangerous 

 one under the armpit, a third on the hip, all with his horns, and 

 then I found myself lifted off the ground and thrown a tremen- 

 dous somersault in the air. I must here mention that on this 

 disastrous day I happened to be wearing a pair of strong Bnghsh 

 cord pantaloons, in which the animal when thrusting at me had 

 caught the tip of one of his horns, and in trying to get clear, or 

 in attempting some other vicious manoeuvre, during which he 

 succeeded in giving me another terrible gash, as I have already 

 said sent me flying. I believe I descended on my head, but still 

 having a portion of my senses about me, I remained perfectly still 

 where I had fallen. Most luckily I was half hidden by a low 

 thorn bush, and was almost on the edge of the lake again. About 

 four yards off, from under the bush, I could see the head and 

 shoulders of the enemy, and, as may be supposed, I watched him 



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