THE BIG GAME OF AFRICA 



rays of the sun during the whole time. I had, as 

 usual, gone ahead of the rest with our naturalist, Mr. 

 Lang, two gun bearers, and two or three porters who 

 carried our cameras. We knew that there was no water 

 to be had except at a certain stream, which we hoped to 

 reach before sunset. Suspecting that we might be able 

 to find lions on these plains, we increased our lead more 

 and more, so that the noise made by the bulk of the men 

 should not frighten any beasts away from our line of 

 march. 



About two o'clock in the afternoon we went over a 

 little hill, from where we had a good view over the coun- 

 try. We now saw the caravan a couple of miles behind 

 us, but did not worry, being reasonably sure that the men 

 would be able to trace our steps through the grass and 

 reach us before the evening. A little after four o'clock 

 we arrived at a small stream, where we decided to camp 

 for the night, and made ourselves comfortable, while we 

 were waiting for the men. We sat down, and I took my 

 field glasses to see if any game animal was near. To my 

 surprise I detected only a few hundred yards away from 

 us five or six giraflfes, which were slowly walking ofif to- 

 ward the bush north of us. 



Although very much tired out, I grasped my gun, asked 

 Mabruki to come along, and started in pursuit of the 

 giraffes. A few seconds later Mr. Lang and two of the 

 other men followed us. After only a few minutes' walk, 

 during which we had not been noticed by the girafifes, 

 we had come close enough to shoot. I singled out the 

 one that we thought was the largest bull, and fired. 

 The animal fell to its knees, but rose again in a few 



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