380 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap. 



askaris' Martini rifles had the effect of turning them 

 off a Httle to our right, where they again halted and 

 stood looking at us, undecided what to do now that 

 their leader was gone. Finally, to my intense relief, 

 they galloped off and disappeared into the depths of 

 the papyrus swamp. 



It was a providential escape from what might 

 have been a dire calamity, and I made a mental 

 vow that nothing whatever would induce me 

 to leave the beaten track again while on this 

 expedition. 



The solitary bull which Mrs. B. had first fired at 

 lay stretched out upon the ground, while the great 

 leader of the herd had again got on his legs and 

 managed to reach the shelter of the papyrus in a very 

 tottery condition. 



I felt convinced that he would die there and that 

 we should get him next morning, as of course it was 

 out of the question to do anything further just then, 

 and indeed my only anxiety was to get back to camp 

 as speedily as possible. 



When all the excitement was over I asked 

 Mrs. B. what her sensations were when the herd 

 was galloping at us, and she replied : " Something 

 like what I suppose an infantry soldier feels when 

 he is resisting a charge of cavalry — a case of beat 

 them off or get trampled " — which I considered 

 a very cool summing up, considering the grave 



