272 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



Ruyter in quest of reitbuck, of which I saw several 

 small troops, but did not kill any, not getting a chance 

 of the old bucks, which I hunted for their heads. I, 

 however, shot one enormous crocodile, which we dis- 

 covered fast asleep on the grassy bank of the river. 

 He got two balls, one in the brains and the other be- 

 hind the shoulder; yet, nevertheless, in the struggles 

 of death he managed to roll into the water and disap- 

 peared. I was extremely surprised to see so enormous 

 a crocodile in so small a stream; his length was con- 

 siderably greater than the width of the river at the spot 

 where I shot him. 



Marched again at sunrise, and I and Ruyter rode 

 ahead to seek reitbuck. I detected one of these squat- 

 ting beside the river to shun observation, and shot him 

 dead on the spot. He proved to be an old buck ; but 

 both of his horns being broken in fighting, I did not 

 keep the head. A little after this, two packs of wild 

 dogs kept trotting and cantering slowly along before us, 

 one on either side of the river ; we had started them 

 from two pallahs, which they had caught and were con- 

 suming. More reitbuck were seen, and presently an 

 old buck, carrying unusually fine horns, started up be- 

 fore us in company with four does. By taking up a 

 position in a hollow in the vley, and sending Ruyter to 

 drive them toward me, I had the satisfaction to succeed 

 in bowling over this fine old buck, which proved to be 

 a princely specimen. 1 shot him running, and broke 

 his back. 



The wagons being opposite to us, we crossed the 

 river, and deposited the head on my cardell ; and, hav- 

 ing proceeded a short distance further up, we discover- 

 ed the fresh spoor of an immense herd of elephants, con- 

 sisting mostly of old bulls. I drew up my wagons on 



