Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/145

 the chase as a bad job. The horse, in spite of its superior breeding, had been severely tried and was on the verge of breaking down. The buffalo had abandoned the hunt none too soon.

The hunter on that occasion has often declared since that he and the mare broke every world's record that was ever made for a flat mile. This is not improbable for if you were to turn a speedy cape buffalo loose behind a good thoroughbred race horse, on an American track, it is extremely likely that several seconds would be clipped off the best running time ever made.

In Ceylon there is a buffalo somewhat like our friend of the Cape, only it is black in color, a little smaller, sleeker and with longer but smoother horns. It is built more on the lines of a gigantic Texas steer. However it is just as fierce as its African cousin, and every bit as much to be feared. Hunters are divided in their opinions as to which affords the best and most dangerous hunting. There isn't much to choose between them.

In Ceylon the buffalo has to reckon with the tiger, but not often. Many generations of battles have taught the tigers wisdom. Sometimes that greatest of all thieves, the leopard, will worry a tiny baby buffalo but not if the mother is nearby. The leopard can escape the buffalo's fury by taking to the tree, otherwise matters would go hard with it. The tiger however must fight it out on foot. Taken on the whole the buffalo is as much master of the situation in Ceylon as it is in South Africa.