146 WILD ANIMAL CELEBRITIES 



bellowed again as though, in triumph. By this 

 time Mr. Maclnroe, the keeper of the herd, 

 with several other keepers, had hurried up 

 with pitchforks, poles, stakes, or anything 

 they could find, and a desperate time ensued. 

 Their chief object was to protect the wounded 

 buffalo, who was now bleeding freely and 

 moaning miserably. But Black Beauty's 

 blood was up, and a savage bull buffalo in a 

 passion is a thing of terror and a most dan- 

 gerous animal, not only on account of his 

 temper, which is wildly fierce when roused, 

 but also on account of his size and strength. 



Many of the keepers had some narrow es- 

 capes, and it was only their quickness and 

 agility which saved them from horrible death. 

 To add to their difficulties, the whole herd 

 had grown wildly excited from the unusual 

 proceedings— the bellowing of the bulls, the 

 shouts of the men, and their wild scrimmaging 

 round and round to avoid Black Beauty's 

 attacks, for he seemed ready for anything and 

 anybody by this time. 



Finally, he was forced at the points of 



