XI MY RECORD BISON 119 



He kept on for miles before lying down, and 

 then we came on five forms, where he had lain 

 down only to move on a few yards again. Finally 

 he left the jungle and crossed some grass land, 

 entering an isolated piece of forest, where my 

 men were certain he must be, so I suggested that 

 one should accompany me to the other side and 

 stand in the open (as to get a shot inside seemed 

 hopeless from the previous day's experience), 

 while the other men followed on to put him up. 

 Before I reached the appointed spot I noticed 

 fresh tracks of a bison having come out, and the 

 man with me said, "It is no good, he has not 

 lain up in this bit " ; eventually the followers 

 joined us, confirming the news. Intervening 

 was a huge stretch of open country before the 

 quarry could hope to reach cover. It was then 

 noon, and the natives, being disheartened them- 

 selves, had an idea that I was cornered, but, as 

 I pointed out to them, it was the third day the 

 animal had not eaten, and where he lay next 

 would be his final resting-place, and I intended 

 to follow him to that spot. It was wonderful 

 to see the tracking done by one special man. 

 The blood had ceased the evening before, and 

 yet, without a pause, he took me on, till at last 

 we reached a long, unbroken line of dense forest. 

 Before entering, there was a hasty consultation 

 amongst the men, and the leader came forward to 

 say he wanted me to come with him, so as to enter 

 the jungle further up, to stand in the bison's path 

 if he should be roused by the others coming behind. 



I had not waited five minutes beside a tree, 

 well inside, but commanding a good view in the 



