It was on this ride that there occurred the incident of the day--thrilling indeed had it not been for the headache that left me cheaper than cheap. Having traversed some three miles of mud and water, suddenly I saw ahead the "camels a-coming!"--eleven of them in line, the last a calf, and what a splash they made! Knowing how horses hate the smell and sight of camels, and _Bufalo_ being a rearing and uncomfortable beast at best, I felt perhaps unduly nervous. The camels were marching directly across my line of route and up-wind thereof. If only I could pass that intersecting point well before them, _Bufalo_, I hoped, might not catch the unwholesome scent. I tried all I could, but the mud was too sticky. The camel-corps came on, splashing, snorting, and striding at high speed. _Bufalo_ saw them quick enough, I can tell you--he stopped dead, gazed and snorted in terror, spun round pirouetting half-a-dozen times, reared, and would certainly have bolted but that he stood well over his fetlocks in mud and nigh up to the girths in water. I could not induce him to face them anyhow; but remember, please, that I was handicapped by the mass of accoutrements and luggage slung around both me and my mount, to wit:--Several empty bottles and bags, remains of lunch, some 500 cartridges, three dozen ducks, a Paradox gun, waders, and brogues! [Illustration] Meantime the camels passed my front within 100 yards and then "rounded up." Having loaded both barrels with ball, I felt safer, and pushed _Bufalo_ forwards--to fifty yards. Then the thought occurred to me, "Do camels charge?" _Bufalo_ reared, twisted, and splashed about in sheer horror, and then--thank goodness--the corps, with a parting roar, or rather a chorus of vicious gurgling grunts, in clear resentment at my presence on the face of the water at all, turned and bolted out west at full speed. I was left alone, and much relieved. The adult camels were of the most disreputable, not to say dissolute appearance, great ugly tangled mats of loose hair hanging from their shoulders, ribs, and flanks, their small ears laid viciously aback, and with utterly disagreeable countenances. I half wish now that I had shot that leading bull--he would never have been missed! I don't suppose that any one has been nearer to these strange beasts than I was that day; certainly I trust never to see them so near again--never in this world! * * * * *