In a moment
more the herd took flight, and horse and rider are presently seen
bursting upon them, shots are heard, and all is smoke, dust and hurry,
and in less time than we have occupied with a description a thousand
carcasses strew the plain.
When the rush was made, the earth seemed to tremble as the horses
started, but when the animals fled, it was like the shock of an
earthquake. The air was darkened, the rapid firing, at first, soon
became more and more faint, and at last died away in the distance.
In such a run, a good horse and experienced rider will select and kill
from ten to twelve buffaloes at one heat, but in the case before us, the
surface was rocky and full of badger holes. Twenty-three horses and
riders were at one moment all sprawling on the ground, one horse gored
by a bull, was killed on the spot, two more were disabled by the fall.
One rider broke his shoulder blade, another burst his gun, and lost
three fingers by the accident, another was struck on the knee by an
exhausted bull. In the evening no less than 1,375 tongues were brought
into camp. When the run is over the hunter's work is now retrograde. The
last animal killed is the first skinned, and night not unfrequently,
surprises the runner at his work.
Pages:
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221