xri " NOW FOR A RUN ! " 241 



be a mamba, a poisonous species, and measured over 

 ten feet in length. The giraffes had been feeding 

 about in all directions, crossing and recrossing their 

 own spoor continually, and it required all the skill 

 of our crafty guides to get it away ; but they were 

 hungry, and lightly indeed must the animal tread 

 that a half-famished Masara will not track to its 

 hiding-place. All at once they stopped short, and, 

 pointing to the ground, pronounced the well-known 

 word " Balegeelee ! " (They've run), and, glancing 

 downwards, we saw, from the now deeply-cut hoof- 

 marks, and the displaced sand, that such was indeed 

 the case. The keen-scented animals had probably 

 got wind of us, and of course made off. No time 

 was to be lost ; so, taking our guns, we bade the 

 Bushmen and our own boys run on the spoor. They 

 at once went off at a good sharp pace, the two 

 Masaras leading, and, after running for about a mile 

 and a half, brought us down to the river again, which 

 the giraffes had crossed. After toiling across the 

 broad expanse of soft white sand, for there was not 

 a drop of water within six feet of the surface, the 

 Bushmen again took up the running, but had not 

 proceeded far when they stopped short, at the same 

 time crouching down and pointing eagerly forwards 

 with their assegais. They had sighted the giraffes, 

 as we ourselves did almost immediately afterwards. 

 They were standing about 300 yards off, looking 

 back towards us, seven in all, — four cows, two halt- 

 grown calves, and a huge patriarchal old bull, 

 whose lofty head towered high over those of his 

 comrades. Beyond them the veldt was pretty open 

 for about 1000 yards up to the edge of a mopani 

 forest. 



" Now for a run ! " said Dorehill, and off" we 



R 



