Well," replied Humphrey, "beef is beef; and, as they say, beggars must
not be choosers, so let it be a bull, if it must be so."

"Let us get nearer to them, and then we will decide what we shall do.
Steady, Smoker!"

They advanced gradually, hiding from tree to tree, until they were
within eighty yards of one of the bulls. The animal did not perceive
them, and as they were now within range, they again stepped behind the
tree to consult.

"Now, Edward, I think that it would be best to separate. You can fire
from where we are, and I will crawl through the fern, and get behind
another tree."

"Very well, do so," replied Edward: "if you can manage, get to that tree
with the low branches, and then perhaps you will be within shot of the
white bull, which is coming down in this direction. Smoker, lie down!
He cannot go with you, Humphrey; it will not be safe."

The distance of the tree which Humphrey ventured to get to was about one
hundred and fifty yards from where Edward was standing. Humphrey
crawled along for some time in the fern, but at last he came to a bare
spot of about ten yards wide, which they were not aware of, and where he
could not be concealed. Humphrey hesitated, and at last decided upon
attempting to cross it. Edward, who was one moment watching the motions
of Humphrey, and at another that of the two animals nearest to them,
perceived that the white bull farthest from him, but nearest to
Humphrey, threw its head in the air, pawed with his foot, and then
advanced with a roar to where Humphrey was on the ground, still crawling
towards the tree, having passed the open spot, and being now not many
yards from the tree. Perceiving the danger that his brother was in, and
that, moreover, Humphrey himself was not aware of it, he hardly knew how
to act. The bull was too far from him to fire at it with any chance of
success; and how to let Humphrey know that the animal had discovered him
and was making towards him, without calling out, he did not know. All
this was the thought of a moment, and then Edward determined to fire at
the bull nearest to him, which he had promised not to do till Humphrey
was also ready to fire; and after firing to call Humphrey. He,
therefore, for one moment, turned away from his brother, and, taking aim
at the bull, fired his gun; but probably from his nerves being a little
shaken at the idea of Humphrey being in danger, the wound was not
mortal, and the bull galloped back to t