in his hand was a good one, and he was already so close to the
buffalo that he was sure of bringing it down at the first fire.

While he was willing to admit that Fred's shot could not have been
improved, so far as effectiveness was concerned, yet he was in earnest
in his intention of firing at the head. He knew that no animal is of any
account after its brain has been perforated, and it seemed to him that
it was more appropriate for a true sportsman to bring down his game by
that means instead of firing at its body.

Terry made a mistake from which his experience on the border ought to
have saved him. Had he driven his bullet into the eye of the buffalo, he
could have slain him, but he was almost certain to fail by firing
simply at the head. It would have been far better had he followed the
example that his companion set.

The bull upon which he had cast his eyes was about twenty yards from the
wood. He did not raise his head until this distance was diminished by
one half. Just then a cow showed some alarm of the approaching figure
and walked hastily away. This caused the bull to throw up his head and
stare at Terry.

"Obsarve!" called the latter to his friend, who began to feel uneasy
over the appearance of things.

A dozen spears of grass seemed to be dripping from the mouth of the
magnificent bull, who glared at the figure of the young man in the act
of leveling his gun as though he had some curiosity to know what was
going on.

Terry aimed at the head, making the part between and above the eyes his
target. This was probably the most invulnerable spot of the animal.

The bull was still staring at the intruder, when the latter, aiming at
the point named, fired. The bullet struck the bony ridge at the upper
part of the head and glanced off into space, inflicting no more real
injury than a paper wad.

But the impingement of the lead must have given the stupid brute an idea
that harm was meant. His anger was roused, and, dropping his head with a
savage bellow, he charged the young hunter at full speed.

This was giving the matter an unpleasant turn, but there was no time to
argue, and flinging his gun aside, Terry gave the finest exhibition of
running he had ever shown. No one could have realized better than did he
that the bull "meant business" and it would never do to allow himself to
be caught.

Fred Linden himself was so startled by the sudden onslaught of the
animal that he was flurried and fired witho