Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



policeman rushed into the camp and brought me 

 a letter. This contained orders for my immediate 

 return to Mbarara, as the Government had ordered 

 the troops back again to take up their old positions 

 on Lake Kivu. 



My "safari" was dog-tired, and as I could not 

 push on that day I determined to strike across the 

 "gubba" till I hit off the main road, and then to 

 cycle into Mbarara. This course was as quick as 

 returning to Kabula, and had the advantage of a 

 likelihood of meeting buffalo. 



Next morning I was up before the sun, 

 and away we went. After four hours' march we 

 found tracks, and suddenly, and without the 

 slightest warning, my orderly excitedly pointed 

 out a herd about one hundred yards to our left. 

 I hastily lay down on an ant-heap and aimed 

 at an enormous bull. To my great surprise, I 

 missed him. At first I was dumbfounded, and then 

 I recollected I had stupidly rested my heavy rifle 

 on the ant-heap, as these ant-heaps are of a par- 

 ticularly unresisting nature, having no give about 

 them whatsoever. My rifle had been thrown up by 

 it, and the shot went high. Immediately after I 

 fired, out rushed my terrier after them. I was in 

 a fix. They simply hate dogs, and always want to 

 oro for them. I knew the terrier would flee back 

 for safety, and then the whole herd would be on 

 top of me. I whistled and whistled, but no good. 

 The beasts stopped and faced round, and the dog 

 fled back, as I had anticipated, but fortunately un- 



i6o 



