96 SPORTING AD VENT GEES 



and after a cup of coffee formed ourselves into 

 three parties and started for the hills: the 

 sergeant and my coxswain accompanied me. 

 The morning was cold and raw, with a thick 

 fog and rain, which soon wetted us to the skin. 

 We went cautiously along, examining every 

 yard before us, as we expected to come upon 

 the cattle at any moment. After crossing a 

 well-timbered valley, and mounting the opposite 

 hill, we heard the lowing of beasts below us ; 

 presently we heard shouts from the hill-side 

 abreast of us, and then several rifle-shots, a ball 

 from one of them coming unpleasantly close to 

 us : the sergeant now said he saw the animals, 

 and rushed forward to get a shot, calling to 

 me to come also. I could, however, hear the 

 crashing of boughs beneath where I stood, and 

 judging that the beasts were coming my way I 

 stood still and kept a sharp look-out below. 



It was an exciting moment, for though we 

 could see nothing, it was evident from the 

 crashing of timber that the beasts were close 

 by; we were standing on the slope of a hill 



