Year: 1876

cattle.


Presently rife-shot rang out, sharp
and clear. then another, and away scam
pered the herd, leaving one beast on the
ground and another wounded; the first
rose again, but dropped to second shot;
the other got away, and the whole herd
galloped off without giving us chance.
On joining the Others, we found they had
killed a fine young bull.


It was now getting late, SO we retraced
our steps to the settlement. There was
just light enough remaining TO go to the
pool after the ducks, seven of which l
bagged in as many minutes.


After hearty supper, we prepared to
turn in; but we had hardly finished our
cigars, when we were aware, from sum
dry noises outside, that beast of some
kind was feeding within few yards of
us; cautiously stealing out with our
rifles ready, we peered into the darkness,
which was so intense that we could see
nothing, although we could hear an
animal breathing and cropping the grass
within five yards of us. At last the
brute either saw or winaed us, and, with
loud snort, bolted; the sergeant fred,
and declared he hit it, when we once
more retired to rest. We were disturbed
in this way several times during the
night, but nothing came of it, as dark
ness favored the animals; atdaylight we
found, by their tracks, that the cattle
had been feeding all round the hut.


We were all astir as soon as we could
see, and. after a cup of coffee, formed
ourselves into three parties and started
for the hills We went cautiously along,
examining every yard before us, as we
expected to come upon the cattle at any
moment.


After crossing well-timbered valley
and mounting the opposite hill, we heard
the lowing of beasts below us; presently
we heard shots from the hillside abreast
of us, and then several rife-shots-a ball
from one of them coming unplessantly
close to us. The sergeant now said he
saw the animals, and rushed forward to
get shot, calling to me to come also. /
could, however, hear the crashing of
boughs beneath where stood, and judg-
ing that the beasts were coming my way,
/ stood still aud kept sharp lookout
below.


1t was an exciting moment, for, though
we could see nothing, it was evident,
from the crashing of timber, that the
beasts were close by. We were standing
on the slope of hill covered with tan
gled brushwood and small trees, none of
which would bear mans weight. I
had my double-barreled smooth-bore
loaded with ball, and my coxswain stood
behind me with Winchester repeating
rifle as a reserve.


Presently espied fine brindled bull
coming up the hill, not forty yards off.
Getting good sight at him through the
trees, I gave him ball behind the
shoulder; he dropped instantly on his
knees, but was quickly up again, looking
round for his enemy, when second ball
crashed through his ribs, and he rolled
over never to rise again.


1 had hardly reloaded, when an i'm
mense black bull came in sight, and re-
ceived a ball in the shoulder, which
dropped him in his tracks. He was sue
seeded by two others, at both of which l
fred, but with what success I could not
tell, as they turned and charged down
the hill and were lost to sight.


Reloading my gun, We went up to
where the first bull was lying dead. We
were about to grallach him, and Ricketts,,
my coxswain, had put down the rife for
that purpose, when he suddenly cried
out, "Look out, sirl here comes the
otherp I turned round in time to see
the black bull which / had wounded,
and thought was dead, in the act Of
charging, not more than ten yards off
He was in truth, desperate looking
brute, as he came at US head down, the
blood pouring from his side; he had seen
us for the first time, and gave a grunt Of
satisfaction as he charged. A ball be-
tween the eyes. at point-blank range.
however, stopped him, and the huge
beast rolled over dead almost at my feet


We new hailed the party in the valley
to come and help us, as we had more than
we could manage. This brought up 8
couple of bluejackets, with whose assist
ance we dragged the two bulls down the
hill, where we found third baast, alst
bull, lying. 1t seems there had beer
five of them in the valley, one of which
had been killed by Els party, anC
the other four came up to me, as already
described. There was considerable argu
ment as to who killed this beast, severa


laying claim to having given him tn,
coup de grace; the sergeant vowed tina
he had shot it in the act of charging
but this statement must be taken Gun


grano sails, seeing that the beast was hi


in the stern. 1t was even reported tina


the sergeant had been seen to fire int


the carcass after it was dead-be that a
it may, we had killed three bulls befor


breakfast, not bad bag.


We were now Joined by the doctor
who also had some adventures to relate
f he had made brilliant stalk to With
about fifty yards of bull and COW with
) out being observed by them. Taking


careful rest in the fork of tree, u
: which he was prepared to mount in cas-
: of accidents, he took aim at the bull
t but alasl as he was about to fire, the ba
3 rolled out of the muzzle and fell harm
| lessly to the ground; the bull took th
s hint and skedaddled.


:, 1t was now eight a. M, so we adjourne
!, to the hut for breakfast; some ducks ha
!. meanwhile returned to the pond, out
f which l bagged five. These birds wei
!, a large and handsome kind of teal, wit
| red haaks and hron1a O oraan nm tb q ur; o-