But he well-nigh shot Crusoe, who, just as he was about to fire, rushed in unexpectedly and sprang at the animal's throat, for which piece of recklessness he was ordered back to watch the pack-horse.
Meanwhile, Henri, by dint of yelling, throwing his arms wildly about, and digging his heels into the sides of his long-legged horse, succeeded in coming close up with the bull, which once or twice turned his clumsy body half round and glared furiously at its pursuer with its small black eyes.

Suddenly it stuck out its tail, stopped short, and turned full round.

Henri stopped short also.

Now, the sticking out of a buffalo's tail has a peculiar significance which it is well to point out.

It serves, in a sense, the same purpose to the hunter that the compass does to the mariner--it points out where to go and what to do.