Two Buffaloes Killed 



paratively easy. Now for the wounded. Listening 

 intensely, I heard snorts coming from the direction 

 of a flat top tree. So I whispered to my orderly 

 that I intended making for the tree, in order to 

 climb up it and have a look round. Cautiously, we 

 made towards it, calculating each step by the way. 

 There was an ant-hill fairly close to it, under cover 

 of which we were able to approach. Taking a peep 

 over the top, I experienced rather a shock at seeing 

 my wounded friend standing right under the very 

 tree gazing in our direction. I had just time to 

 warn my orderly, when down he came. At that 

 close range a single shot sufficed to check his 

 remaining energy, and his charging days were over. 

 The third beast had made off into the jungle, and I 

 did not feel inclined to risk following him up in that 

 close country, as I would not have had an even 

 chance. I was very satisfied with the second one I 

 had bagged, as he was a very old bull, and a fine 

 specimen to boot. I arrived back in camp in time <^/ 

 for luncheon, and setting my easy chair so as to 

 command a view of some cultivation belonging to 

 the chief, which afforded great relief to the eye 

 after the endless "gubba," I read a book till I fell 

 asleep. 



In the afternoon my porters arrived staggering 

 under the heavy weight of the buffalo heads. 

 By a curious coincidence, which I had reason 

 to suspect, the chief appeared on the scene at 

 the same moment, but merely for the purpose, of 

 course, of paying a call upon me ! I made him a 



269 



