There we suddenly found ourselves face to face with the herd which we
sought--a herd of buffaloes. They looked up, and stared at us
inquisitively, but without moving. Jack would have fired, but I checked
him. `Back to the thicket,' I said, `and keep back the dogs!'
We began to retreat, but before we were again under cover, the dogs
joined us; and, in spite of our shouts and efforts to restrain them,
they dashed forwards, and seized a buffalo calf.
This was a signal to the whole herd to attack us. They bellowed
loudly, pawed the ground, and tore it up with their horns, and then
dashed madly towards us. We had not time to step behind a rock before
the leader was upon us. So close was he that my gun was useless. I drew
a pistol and fired. He fell dead at my feet.
His fall checked the advance of the rest. They halted, snuffed the air,
turned tail and galloped off across the plain. They were gone, but the
dogs still held gallantly to the calf. They dragged and tussled with
him, but with their utmost efforts could not bring him to the ground.
How to assist them without shooting the poor beast, I knew not; and
this I was unwilling to do, for I hoped that, if we could but capture
him alive, we might in time manage to tame him, and use him as a beast
of burden.
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