“What would you do ?” used to figure on the cover of a boys’ comic called “Boys’ World”. This was a publication, obviously, aimed at boys and first appeared on January 26th 1963. There were 89 issues before the comic was merged with Eagle in 1964. The last issue of “Boys’ World” came out on October 3rd 1964.
I used to buy “Boys’ World”, and this was mainly for the front cover which always featured a kind of puzzle. It was called “What would you do ?” and was based on somebody being in what Ned Flanders would call “A dilly of a pickle”. Here’s the situation:
The yellow box sets the scene, and the task is for you to solve the situation. Perhaps you might like to write your idea in the “Comments” section.
Here’s the yellow box enlarged:
So…..it’s one “Dilly of a pickle”. A thousand hooves thunder across the American plains as the bison all set off in a frightening stampede. In their path stands Buffalo Bill, an All-American Hero, but armed at this moment with only a single shot rifle. His revolver will be useless and against these terrified huge animals, his one bullet will not kill the herd.
What can he do??
Incidentally, Buffalo Bill and his famous Wild West Show came to Nottingham, accompanied by riders of many different nationalities, such as Lakota and Cheyenne Native Americans, Argentinian gauchos, Russian Cossacks, Mongols and Turks, all of them expert riders. They camped on grassland between the southern bank of the Trent and the houses of that part of West Bridgford, but I have been unable to discover where they performed.
After one Saturday matinée, a stand holding 800 people collapsed, but the only damage was one broken ankle, a very lucky escape for everybody.
John Knifton 
Open page 9
And hopefuly, when you put your trembling fingers into your pocket, it doesn’t turn out to be page 19.
Merry Christmas, Derrick, and may all of your herds of buffalo be timid little ones!
What would Buffalo Bill do? He would shoot (and presumably kill one of the buffalo and lie down behind its body. The stampeding herd would pass around or leap over the dead buffalo.
I concur…
Correct, Allen and Pierre.
I doff my cap to your knowledge of the behaviour of large herds of buffalo.
When under attack or in grave danger in the world of Buffalo Bill stories, the first thing to do is to shoot the nearest four-footed animal and hide behind it. Hopefully, the nearest creature fitting the description is a large animal.
I am inclined to agree with Allen. However, it would need perfect timing.
Indeed it would, Chris, but you have got the right answer and you may join the queue all standing safely behind Buffalo Bill’s buffalo.
His options are few. If there were holes in the ground or small rises he could possibly hide behind or in one of those as the buffalo would likely jump over or go around.
But his best result is to use his rifle to kill the lead buffalo and hide behind its body. The rest of the herd would turn to avoid the dead body. And even though his revolver wouldn’t kill a buffalo it could still make a noise that they would likely want to avoid and at close range might cause a buffalo to change course.
Now if Buffalo Bill had remembered to bring his communicator, he could have just called the Enterprise to beam him up out of that mess.
I had thought also of the Enterprise communicator.
Well done, Andrew, you too have solved the “What would you do ?” puzzle, and don’t forget that you also have the bonus prize of as much buffalo meat as you can carry back to your camp fire.
If I knew how to mount one of the stampeding buffalo, I might survive 😦
He was a great rider, maybe get on the back of one and ride it out? haha, that’s about the dumbest answer I’ve ever given you!!
Isn’t dumb GP.
You are right, Pierre. GP has not produced a dumb answer, and I feel that a great many people who were not as skilful at shooting as Buffalo Bill would have finished up trying this solution.
I hope you have a lovely Christmas, Pierre, and season’s greetings to you and your family.
Merci John. All the same.
Thanks, Pierre!
Well, GP, I don’t think you have produced a silly answer, and I am sure that it would have been in Buffalo Bill’s mind as he took his shot.
Merry Christmas to you and to your family, and I hope that Santa brings you a huge pile of lovely presents.
That sounds great, but I doubt it, lol
Any idea what Santa has in store for you?
I used to be a very bkeen birdwatcher, so I have opted for some interesting old bird books.
Fantastic! Books should be on everyone’s list!
The suggestion of killing the lead Buffalo certainly makes sense (I’m not cheating at all here!) but somehow I think there’s a much more simple and certain answer. Laying behind a bolder for example, in a hole or a strong tree if such a thing was about. Even perhaps simply laying down but that’s a little unprotected from a massed herd of such creatures. An evil stare maybe?
I think your first suggestion of shooting the lead buffalo is the best one, even if it is the most popular.
Your other suggestions depend a lot on the availability of a boulder, a large man sized hole or a very stout tree, although the latter possibility is probably something that the herd of buffalo could flatten in the blink of an eye.
Stick to shooting a buffalo and using him to provide cover!
Clearly as a rubbish Beatles fan and even worse hunter, I deserve to be run over by these creatures. I will therefore, endeavour to avoid such situations in the future. Happy Christmas to you and the family John.
For how long did you think before turning to page 9 ? Interesting puzzle 🙂
Not very long, I’m afraid!
I’ve found that when you have the means of finding out the correct answer, you very often take it !!
Thank you for sharing!!.. given the circumstances think the best possible action is to shoot the nearest buffalo and use the body for protection, perhaps if there is time shoot more than one close to each other…. 🙂
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and until we meet again…
May the sun shine all day long
Everything go right, nothing go wrong
May those you love bring love back to you
And may all the wishes you wish come true
May your troubles be less
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
(Irish Saying)
Well done!! A correct answer!!
John, I notice that my comment does not appear on your blog. Is there a problem?
Three of your comments I found in spam and one of Derrick Knight’s also. I can only presume thast this was the work of WordPress.
There were six comments overall that were real spam, and some 12, 680 that I had allowed automatically, I presume, by replying to them.
If you have any more problems, please let me know and I will move them to the correct category.