It is said that creasing generally destroys or damages the spirit of the horse, so Dick determined to try whether his powers of close shooting would not serve him on this occasion.

Going down on one knee he aimed at the creature's neck, just a hair's-breadth above the spot where he had been told that hunters usually hit them, and fired.

The effect upon the group was absolutely tremendous.

With wild cries and snorting terror they tossed their proud heads in the air, uncertain for one moment in which direction to fly; then there was a rush as if a hurricane swept over the place, and they were gone.
But the brown horse was down.

Dick did not wait until the others had fled.