162 AN AWKWARD ENCOUNTER. 



to resent my invasion, but to oppose my retreat. 

 Upon this I halted for an instant, to consider 

 what was best to be done ; and the enemy all 

 stopped too. By this time the circle was become 

 disagreeably contracted; and, seeing no other 

 means left me for escape, I valiantly charged 

 the bull, gun in hand. The herd, one and all, 

 slowly turned from me for a moment, but only 

 to rally again ; and I found that I had gained 

 nothing by the movement. Whereupon, whether 

 animated by courage proportioned to the 

 dilemma, or rendered rash by fear, I pretend 

 not to decide ; but, without loss of time, I made 

 a more desperate charge than the first, accom- 

 panied by a lusty shout. Happily, the result 

 was a complete rout of the enemy. Away 

 they all fled, their heads down, their tails stif- 

 fened out; and such was the effect of my prowess 

 — such the panic — -that they had not ceased 



