232 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



very promising, and, having fastened my two horses to a tree 

 beneath the river's bank, I prepared a place of concealment c.ose 

 by, and lay >lown for the night. 



The rivei's banks on each side were clad with groves of shady 

 thorn trees. After I had lain some time, squadrons of buffaloes 

 were heard coming on, until the shady grove on the east bank of 

 the water immediately above me was alive with them. After 

 some time the leaders ventured down the river's bank to drink, 

 and this was the signal for a general rush into the large pool of 

 Wi-ter: they came on like a regiment of cavalry at a gallop, 

 making a mighty din, and obscuring the air with a dense cloud of 

 dust. At length I sent a ball into one of them, when the most 

 tremendous rush followed up the bank, where they all stood still, 

 listening attentively. I knew that the buffalo was severely 

 wounded, but did not hear him fall. Some time after I fired at a 

 second, as they stood on the bank above me ; this buffalo was also 

 hard hit, but did not then fall. A little after I fired at a third on 

 the same spot; he ran forty-yards, and, falling, groaned fearfully: 

 this at once brought on a number of the others to butt their dying 

 comrade, according to their benevolent custom. I then crept in 

 toward them, and, firing my fourth shot, a second buffalo ran for- 

 ward a few yards, and, falling, groaned as the last ; her comrades, 

 coming up, served her in the same manner. A second time I 

 crept in, and, firing a fifth shot, a third buffalo ran forward, and 

 fell close to her dying comrades : in a few minutes all the other 

 buffaloes made off, and the sound of teeth tearing at the flesh wa? 

 heard immediately. 



I fancied it was the hyaenas, and fired a shot to scare them from 

 the flesh. All was still ; and, being anxious to inspect the heads 

 of the buffaloes, I went boldly forward, taking the native who 

 accompanied me along with me. We were within about five 

 yards of the nearest buffalo, when I observed a yellow mass lying 

 alongside of him, and at the same instant a lion gave" a deep growl. 

 I thought it was all over with me. The native shouted "Tao," 

 and, springing away, instantly commenced blowing shrilly througn 

 a charmed piei e of bone which he wore on his necklace. I 



