242 A FIGHT WITH A mv, BULL. 
sent some men to bring my captive home. After breakfast I 
started again, accompanied by Atley and another man to take 
up the track of the bison. We soon got on it, but were 
delayed by a heavy shower ; when it was over Atley showed 
his " cuteness " by cleverly keepinsr the true track, and he 
became very excited when, after half an hour or so, we came 
on the foot marks not filled with water, and then w^e suddenly 
caught sight of the bison just ahead. As we crept on 
expecting every moment to come upon them, I heard a 
strange noise to my left r 1 asked what it was, and Adey made 
use of a word I did not know, but from the sound I thought 
it was a tiger. We turned off in that direction, and 1 fully 
expected to come upon the "gentleman in stripes;" I saw 
some branches move, and on carefully looking perceived a 
very large bull bison instead, he was amongst thick bushes, 
and I could only see an indistinct oudine. I guessed as near as 
possible the position of the shoulder and fired the big rifle at 
him, he gave a bound forward and then stopped sufficiently 
long for me to give him another shot front the double rifie ; 
he then dashed onwards, but 1 had heard the thud. We 
followed the spoor for some distance without finding a drop 
of blood, and Atley gave me a most reproachful look, but the 
next moment I pointed to a bamboo quite red with blood, and 
just beyond we saw the bull stand in<^ on the high ground 
above us. I fired and hit him well behind the shoulder, but 
he dashed off. only, however, going about fifty yards, when he 
stopped, and 1 walked down to him thinking to give him the 
finishing shot with my big rifle " Sal" ; suddenly he made a 
fearful rush at me. Atley put the double into my hand and 
bolted, and 1 thought it prudent to retire and bide my oppor- 
tunity ; he only moved forward a few paces and then stopped, 
