Failing in this, both would rush past, until they were several yards apart; then wheel round, drop once more to their knees; and advance as before.
"Hitherto I had looked upon these conflicts as merely playful; and so I fancy most of them were.

But this time the bulls seemed to be in earnest.

The loud cracking of their helmet-covered foreheads against each other, their fierce snorting and bellowing, and, above all, their angry manner, convinced me that they had really quarrelled, and were serious about it.
"One of them, at length, seemed to be getting knocked over repeatedly.
Every time he had partially risen to his feet, and before he could quite recover them, his antagonist rushed upon him, and butted him back upon his side.
"Seeing them so earnestly engaged, I thought I might as well make a sure shot of it, by going a little nearer; so I stepped from behind the ant-hill, and walked towards the combatants.

Neither took any notice of my approach--the one because he had enough to do to guard himself from the terrible blows, and the other because he was so occupied in delivering them.
"When within twenty paces I levelled my gun.

I chose the bull who appeared victor, partly as a punishment for his want of feeling in striking a fallen antagonist, but, perhaps, more because his broadside was towards me, and presented a fairer mark.
"I fired.
"The smoke hid both for a moment.