第34章

The jungle was so thick that I could not see his head, or, of course, Ishould have chosen the usual shot.This shot was not a fair criterion for the shoulder, as I happened to be in a position that enabled me to fire down upon him, and the ball most likely passed completely through him.

I remember a curious and unexpected shot that I once made with the four-ounce rifle, which illustrates its immense power.I was shooting at Minneria, and was returning to the tent in the afternoon, having had a great day's sport with buffaloes, when I saw a large herd in the distance, ranged up together, and gazing intently at some object near them.Being on horseback I rode up to them, carrying my heavy rifle;and, upon a near approach I discovered two large bulls fighting furiously.This combat was exciting the attention of the herd, who retreated upon my approach.The two bulls were so engaged in their duel that they did not notice me until I was within fifty yards of them.

First one, then the other, was borne to the ground, when presently their horns became locked together, as though arm in arm.The more they tugged to separate themselves, the tighter they held together, and at length they ranged side by side, Taking a shot at the shoulder of the nearest bull, they both fell suddenly to the ground.The fall unlocked their horns, and one bull recovering his legs, retreated at a slow pace and dead lame.The nearest bull was killed, and mounting my horse I galloped after the wounded buffalo.The chase did not last long.Upon arriving within fifty yards of his flank, I noticed the blood streaming from his mouth, and he presently rolled over and died.The ball, having passed through his antagonist, had entered his shoulder, and, smashing the shoulder-blade, had passed through the body, lodging in the tough hide upon his opposite side, from which I extracted it by simply cutting the skin which covered it.

I have frequently seen the bull buffaloes fight each other with great fury.Upon these occasions they are generally the most dangerous, all their natural ferocity being increased by the heat of the combat.I was once in pursuit of an elephant which led me across the plain at Minneria, when I suddenly observed a large bull buffalo making towards me, as though to cut me off in the very direction in which I was advancing.Upon his near approach I noticed numerous bloody cuts and scratches upon his neck and shoulders, which were evidently only just made by the horns of some bull with whom he had been fighting.Not wishing to fire, lest I should alarm the elephant, I endeavoured to avoid him, but this was no easy task.He advanced to within fifty paces of me, and, ploughing up the ground with his horns, and roaring, he seemed determined to make an attack.However, I managed to pass him at length, being determined to pay him off on my return, if he were still in the same spot.

On arriving near the position of the elephant, I saw at once that it was impossible to get him: he was standing in a deep morass of great extent, backed by thick jungles, and I could not approach nearer than 150 paces.

After trying several ruses to induce him to quit his mud-bath and come on, I found it was of no use; he was not disposed to be a fighter, as he saw my strong position upon some open rising ground among some large trees.I therefore took a rest upon the branch of a tree, and gave him a shot from the four-ounce rifle through the shoulder.This sent him to the thick jungle with ears and trunk drooping, but produced no other effect.I therefore returned towards the tent, fully expecting to meet my old enemy, the bull, whom I had left master of the field.In this Iwas not disappointed; he was standing within a few yards of the same spot, and, upon seeing me, he immediately advanced, having a very poor opinion of an enemy who had retreated from him an hour previous.

Instead of charging at a rapid pace he trotted slowly up, and I gave him the four-ounce when within fifty yards.This knocked him over; but, to my astonishment, he recovered himself instantly and galloped towards me.

Again he stopped within twenty yards of me, and it was fortunate for me that he did; for a servant who was carrying my long two-ounce rifle had, in his excitement, cocked it and actually set the hair-trigger.This he managed to touch as he handed it to me, and it exploded close to my head.I had only a light double-gun loaded, and the buffalo was evidently prepared to charge in a few seconds.

To my great satisfaction I saw the bloody foam gathering upon his lips, and I knew that he was struck through the lungs; but, nevertheless, the distance was so short between us that he could reach me in two or three bounds.Keeping my Moorman with the light gun close to me in readiness, I began to load my two big rifles.In the mean time the bull was advancing step by step with an expression of determined malice, and my Cingalese servant, in an abject state of fright, was imploring me to run--simply as an excuse for his own flight.`Buffalo's coming, sar!

Master, run plenty, quick! Buffalo's coming, sar! Master, get big tree!'

I could not turn to silence the fellow, but I caught him a fine backward kick upon the shins with my heel, which stopped him, and in a few seconds I was loaded and the four-ounce was in my hand.The bull, at this time, was not fifteen yards from me; but, just as I was going to fire, I saw him reel to one side; and in another moment he rolled upon his back, a dead buffalo, although I had not fired after my first shot.

The ball, having entered his chest, was sticking in the skin of his haunch, having passed through his lungs.His wonderful pluck had kept him upon his legs until life was extinct.