170 HUNTING IN THE SOTIK [ch. viii 



ahead on the tranquil sorrel, heading for a point toward 

 which the giraffe were walking. Stalking was an im- 

 possibility, and I was prepared either to manoeuvre for 

 a shot on foot or to ride them, as circumstances might 

 determine. I carried the little Springfield, being desirous 

 of testing the small, solid, sharp-pointed army bullet on 

 the big beasts. As I rode, a wildebeest bull played 

 around me within two hundred yards, prancing, flourish- 

 ing his tail, tossing his head, and uttering his grunting 

 bellow. It almost seemed as if he knew I would not 

 shoot at him, or as if for the moment he had been 

 infected with the absurd tameness which the giraffe 

 showed. 



There were seven giraffes, a medium-sized bull, four 

 cows, and two young ones ; and, funnily enough, the 

 young ones were by far the shyest and most suspicious. 

 I did not want to kill a bull unless it was exceptionally 

 large ; whereas I did want two cows and a young one 

 for tlie Museum. AVhen quarter of a mile away I dis- 

 mounted, threw the reins over Tranquillity's head — 

 whereat the good placid old fellow at once began 

 grazing — and walked diagonally toward the biggest 

 cow, which was ahead of the others. The tall, hand- 

 some, ungainly creatures were nothing like as shy as 

 the smaller game had shown themsehes that morning, 

 and, of course, they offered such big targets that three 

 Iiundred yards was a fair range for them. At two 

 hundred and sixty yards I fired at the big cow as she 

 stood almost facing me, twisting and curling her tail. 

 The bullet struck fair, and she was off at a hurried, 

 clumsy gallop. I gave her another bullet, but it was 

 not necessary, and down she went. The second cow, a 

 fine young heifer, was now cantering across my front, 

 and with two more shots I got her, the sharp-pointed 



