h so that I dropped the box
of caps at my feet. I had taken one out, however, and hurriedly
adjusted it, thinking to myself, as I did so, that the box might lie
where it was until I had finished the job. I brought the piece to my
shoulder, when, to my surprise, the bull, instead of running away, as I
had expected, set his head, and uttering one of his terrible bellows,
came rushing towards me. I fired, but the shot was a random one, and
though it hit him in the snout, it did not in the least disable him.
Instead of keeping him off, it only seemed to irritate him the more, and
his fury was now at its height.

"I had no time to load again. He was within a few feet of me when I
fired, and it was with difficulty that, by leaping to one side, I
avoided his horns; but I did so, and he passed me with such violence
that I felt the ground shake under his heavy tread.

"He wheeled immediately, and made at me a second time. I knew that if
he once touched me I was gone. His horns were set, and his eyes glared
with a terrible earnestness. I rushed towards the body of the buffalo
that lay near, hoping that this might assist me in avoiding the onset.
It did so, for, as he dashed forward over it, he became entangled among
the limbs, and again charged without striking me. He turned, however,
as quick as thought, and again rushed bellowing upon me. There was a
tree near at hand. I had noticed it before, but I could not tell
whether I should have time to reach it. I was now somewhat nearer it,
and, fearing that I might not be able to dodge the furious brute any
longer upon the ground, I struck out for the tree. You may be sure I
did my best at running. I heard the bull coming after, but before he
could overtake me, I had got to the root of the tree. It was my
intention, at first, only to take shelter behind the trunk; but when I
had got there, I noticed that there were some low branches, and catching
one of these I swung myself up among them.

"The bull passed under me with a rush--almost touching my feet as I hung
by the branch--but I was soon safely lodged in a fork, and out of his
reach.

"My next thought was to load my gun, and fire at him from my perch, and,
with this intention, I commenced loading. I had no fear but that he
would give me an opportunity, for he kept round the tree, and at times
attacked the trunk, butting and goring it with his horns, and all the
while bellowing furiously. The tree was a small one