if you should ever take a trip round the world, you will probably call some day at ceylon. there are the haunts of the buffalo-an animal about the size of a large ox, with thick-set body, stout legs, curved horns, wild eyes, almost hairless hide, and a long tail. the buffalo is very rough and very strong, and when roused will dash itself with fury on everything that comes in its way.
some varieties are tame, and in italy are used for field labour. their rich milk, hide, and horns are also valuable. but the buffaloes of south and central africa and india are wild creatures, and many a traveller can tell of hair- breadth escapes from them.
sir samuel baker, the great african explorer, who spent eight years also in ceylon, was once hunting a buffalo near the edge of a small lake. the animal took to the water, so sir samuel ran round to meet it on the other side, and waded knee-deep into theshallows. fifteen paces off the animal stood still, looking at him sullenly. "i took a quick but steady aim at his chest," writes the explorer, "at the point of connection with the throat.
"the smoke of the barrel passed to one side-still there the buffalo stood. he had not flinched nor moved a muscle. the only change that had taken place was in his eye. this, which had been merely sullen, was now gleaming with fury. a stream of blood poured from a wound within an inch of the spot at which i had aimed. had it not been for this fact i should not have known that he had been struck.
"i now fired again, with the left barrel. the report of the gun echoed over the lake, but still there he stood, as though he bore a charmed life1. a greater flow of blood from the wound, and more lustre in his eyes, were the only signs of his having been struck.
"my rifle was unloaded, and i had not a single ball remaining. it was now the buffalo"s turn. i dared not turn to retreat, as i knew he would at once charge if i did so. so we stared each other out of countenance2. with a short grunt the buffalo sprang forward, but, as i did not move, he halted. he had, however, got nearer me, and we now gazed at each other at a distance of ten paces.
"i began to think buffalo-shooting some what dangerous. i would have given something to have been a mile away, but ten times as much to have had my four-ounce rifle3 in my1charmed life: life guarded as if by a charm or spell.
2stared each other out of countenance: gazed intently at each other. 3 four-ounce rifle: a rifle carrying a four-ounce bullet.
hand. oh, how i longed for that rifle at this moment! unloaded, without the power of defence, with the certainty of a charge from an overpowering brute, my hand found the handle of my hunting knife. i knew, however, it was a useless weapon against such a foe.
"knowing that the friend, who had come out with me, was not aware of my situation, i raised my hand to my mouth and gave a long loud whistle. this was a signal, that i knew would be soon answered by him, if he heard it.
"the bull, with a stealthy step, came a couple of paces nearer me. as he now stood, pawing the water and stamping with his fore feet, he was the picture of rage and fury, and seemed quite aware of my helplessness.
"suddenly a bright thought flashed through my mind. without taking my eyes off the animal before me, i put a double charge of powder down the right-hand barrel. then, tearing off a piece of my handkerchief, i took all the money from my pouch, three shillings in sixpenny pieces. i had the money with me in the small coin for paying the coolies1. quickly making them into a small roll with the piece of rag, i rammed them down the barrel.
"they were hardly well home, before the bull again sprang forward. so quick was he that i had no time to replace the ramrod. i threw it into the water, bringing my gun to full cock in the same instant. however, he again halted at about seven paces from me. we again gazed at each other, but it was with altered feelings on my part.
1 coolies: cingalese porters; labourers.
"the muzzle of my gun nearly touched the animal"s forehead.""at this time i heard a splashing in the water behind me. the next moment i heard my friend"s voice. without turning my face from the buffalo, i warned him to reserve his fire till the bull should be close in to me, and then to aim at the head.
"the words were hardly uttered when the bull rushed straight at me. it was the work of an instant. my friend fired without effect. the muzzle of my gun nearly touched the animal"s forehead when i pulled the trigger, and three shillings worthof small change rattled into his hard head. down he went and rolled over.
"knowing that the bull was not dead but only stunned, away went my friend and i as fast as our legs could carry us through the water and over the plain. there was a large fallen tree about half a mile from us, whose whitened branches, rising high above the ground, offered a tempting retreat1. to this we directed our steps, and after a run of a hundred yards we turned and looked behind us.
"the buffalo had got to his feet and was coming slowly after us. on he came, but he was so stunned by his meeting with her majesty"s features upon the coin which he dared to oppose, that he could only reel forward at a slow canter. by degrees even this pace slackened, and he fell."-adapted from sir samuel baker1 tempting retreat: desirable place of safety.