406 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



thick, noisy cover. Now it was almost dark, 

 and would be quite dark within the half-hour. 

 The kudu had moved out of sight. Whether he 

 had gone on some distance, or whether he still 

 lingered near the edge of the tiny opening was 

 another matter to be determined, and to be 

 determined quickly. 



Leaving Kongoni and Mavrouki, C. and I 

 wriggled pantingly up the hill, as fast and at the 

 same time as cautiously as we could. At the 

 edge of the opening we came to a halt, belly down, 

 and began eagerly to scrutinize the brush across 

 the way. If the kudu still lingered we had to 

 find it out before we ventured out of cover to 

 take up his trail. Inch by inch we scrutinized 

 every possible concealment. Finally C. breathed 

 sharp with satisfaction. He had caught sight 

 of the tip of one horn. With some difficulty 

 he indicated to me where. After staring long 

 enough, we could dimly make out the kudu 

 himself browsing, from the tender branch-ends. 



All we could do was to lie low. If the kudu 

 fed on out of sight into the cover, we could not 

 possibly get a shot ; if he should happen again 

 to cross the opening, we would get a good shot. 

 No one but a hunter can understand the pant- 

 ing, dry-mouthed excitement of those minutes ; 



