But Shaggo did not run. He stood with his feet braced in the dirt, and the rushing antelopes, with their sharp horns, came nearer and nearer.
Now one of them was so close to Shaggo that it seemed as if the buffalo would be scratched by the horns. But the big buffalo swung a little to one side, though his sore shoulder hurt him, and, with one sweep of his great head, he knocked the first antelope head over heels, causing him to roll in the dust.
“How do you like that?” bellowed Shaggo.
“Pooh! that’s only one. There are three dozen of us!” cried the next antelope.
That animal, also, rushed at Shaggo, but once again the big buffalo waited until the sharp-horned creature came close enough. Then with a swing of his head, taking care not to let the antelope’s horns hurt him, Shaggo sent this fellow rolling over and over away from the water hole.
“Come on!” bellowed the buffalo. “I’m ready for you!”
He knocked down a third antelope, sending this one turning two somersaults head over heels.
“Ho! Ho!” laughed Shaggo. “This is like the game Rumpo and Bumpo used to play! It’s lots of fun! It’s better than tag! Come on! Who’s going to be the next?”
But now the rush of antelopes stopped. They were not used to being knocked about in this way.