. The white elephant ; or, the hunters of Ava and the king of the golden foot . uietly grazing just within range ofmy rifle; I thought my aim sure, a sportsmans plea-sure thrilled through my frame, crack went my piece,and I started upon my feet—but with chagrin, for Iknew Naon would laugh at my conceit when he sawthe splendid creatures at full gallop across the plain,startled, but untouched by the bullet. Yet I had succeeded in doing more than startlethe deer. I had attracted the attention of a drove ofcream-colored buffaloes, which, although alarmed atthe report of the rifle, did not, as I ex
. The white elephant ; or, the hunters of Ava and the king of the golden foot . uietly grazing just within range ofmy rifle; I thought my aim sure, a sportsmans plea-sure thrilled through my frame, crack went my piece,and I started upon my feet—but with chagrin, for Iknew Naon would laugh at my conceit when he sawthe splendid creatures at full gallop across the plain,startled, but untouched by the bullet. Yet I had succeeded in doing more than startlethe deer. I had attracted the attention of a drove ofcream-colored buffaloes, which, although alarmed atthe report of the rifle, did not, as I expected,scamper away frightened, but with impudent effron-tery stood staring at me with their fore legs stretchedforth as if prepared and in expectation of an attackfrom me. Of course it was not my intention even toprovoke these formidable creatures, for I knew themto be the domesticated animals of the neighboringvillages; but seeing them thus present so warlike afront, I was not by any means so sure of their peace-able intentions; and this was not at all agreeable, lIFtlft. The Adventure with the Buffaloes. Page 148. MISUNDERSTANDING WITH BUFFALOES. 149 for I remembered to have heard that, if fired at, andnot mortally wounded, these animals will pursue thesportsman till they overtake him, or in their ragedash themselves against the first tree or wall thatcomes in their way. For five minutes I stood lookingat them, and still they remained quiet, not even bel-lowing. This gave me confidence, and so I unhesita-tingly walked toward them. The nearer, however, I approached them, the moreevident it appeared that there was some incompre-hensible misunderstanding between us, for then, two—a kind of deputation from the general body—withtheir tails and heads erect, trotted toward me, not ina straight line, but making a half-circle, as if, althoughanxious to make themselves acquainted with my busi-ness, they were yet half afraid of making the first ad-vance. I did not quite like this
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