THE GREATER KUDU. 405 



to rise like a mist from the deeps of the canons. 

 We had ceased hunting it was time to hurry 

 home and happened not to be talking only 

 because we were tired. By sheerest idle luck I 

 chanced to look up to the densely covered face of 

 the mountain. Across a single tiny opening in 

 the tall brush five or six hundred yards away, I 

 caught a movement. Still idly I lifted my glasses 

 for a look at what I thought would prove the 

 usual impalla or sing-sing, and was just in time to 

 catch the spirals of a magnificent set of horns. 

 It was the greater kudu at last ! 



I gave a little cluck of caution ; and instantly, 

 without question, after the African fashion, the 

 three men ahead of me sank to the ground. C. 

 looked at me inquiringly. I motioned with my 

 eyes. He raised his glasses for one look. 



" That's the fellow," he said quietly. 



The kudu, as though he had merely stepped 

 into the opening to give us a sight of him, melted 

 into the brush. 



It was magnificent and exciting to have seen 

 this wonderful beast after so long a quest, but 

 by the same token it was not very encouraging 

 for all that. If we had had all the daylight we 

 needed, and unlimited time, it would have been 

 quite a feat to stalk the wary beast in that 



