218 STALKS ABROAD 



their heads. I made out two bulls, one above and one 

 below the herd, either of which were good enough to 

 shoot. The 'Ndorobo sneaked back a little way and 

 we followed. Very cautiously, and keeping in the 

 deepest shadow, he crept along the edge of the trees. 

 The buffaloes were right out in the open and about 

 six hundred yards off. Hassan seemed to have got 

 quite stupid, as he kept stopping in order to indulge in 

 long stares at our quarry. We only had one chance, 

 to reach the cover whilst they were still in the open, 

 so I hurried him on. We reached the dip safely and 

 got into the bush, though I could see a cow a few 

 hundred yards off, fortunately with her back turned. 



We passed the strip of bush through which the 

 first lot had fed and up amongst a lot of burned trees 

 and grass. The latter made a great rustling, and I 

 was afraid we should be heard as we were getting 

 very close. The 'Ndorobo peered round a corner of 

 the undergrowth and drew back. I crept gingerly 

 forward and imitated his example. Neither bull 

 was in sight, but an old cow, the only beast I could 

 see, was placidly chewing the cud within thirty yards 

 of our hiding-place. She raised her head but I kept 

 perfectly still, and she went on feeding, unconscious of 

 the tumult of anxiety for which she was responsible. 



Feeding out of sight, in a minute she reappeared, 

 this time certainly within ten yards of us. I could 

 see the sunlight glinting on her eye quite distinctly, 

 and was horribly afraid she would give the whole 

 show away, for there were four or five beasts in 



