Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



taking his rifle, haversack, and water-bottle, I made 

 in the direction where the hunters awaited me. 



I would have certainly lost my way but for a 

 stroke of luck. What joy! I suddenly came on 

 the lost "safari." I shouted like a madman, and 

 overtaking them, swallowed breakfast in a record 

 space of time. I noticed, however, that whilst the 

 boys were busy cooking the food, my terrier was 

 making hay while the sun shone by lapping up all the 

 milk out of the jug. In order to get back we had 

 to pass over two belts of grass fires. We each took 

 a run and a jump where the blaze was less dense, 

 but it was hot, nevertheless. My hunter's dog had 

 several tries, poor brute, before final success. 



Finally, after a rather exhaustive march over 

 hill and dale, the orderly suddenly stopped and 

 pointed in the direction of some small shady trees 

 growing on both sides of a valley. I looked through 

 my glasses, and was at first unable to make out 

 anything, when suddenly I spotted the herd about 

 a hundred yards away congregated together at my 

 very feet — a huge black mass in appearance. It was 

 my first sight of buffalo, and rather a shock to find 

 such a sudden and close acquaintanceship. I could 

 not see them very well, owing to a fold in the 

 ground ; but, being impatient, I placed my rifle in 

 the fork of a tree and blazed off at a fairly useful 

 looking old warrior. I let off the second barrel to 

 make certain, when suddenly the whole herd of 

 about fifty strong stampeded right down upon us. 

 To make matters worse, my rifle jammed. The 



146 



