VARYING SUCCESS 



carefully. The time went on, but though I saw some 

 gerenuk I did not fire, for fear of frightening more 

 important game. At about five I was making my 

 way, very carefully as usual, through extremely dense 

 thorn-scrub towards a small swamp which my guide 

 had found, when suddenly I heard a snort right in 

 front of me, and the crashing of heavy bodies through 

 the bush. I caught a glimpse of six arrola galloping 

 away, and although I was afraid it would be useless 

 I made a wide detour as fast as I could go, and by 

 and by made them out in the distance ; but they were 

 very nervous and uneasy, and before I could get a shot 

 they were off again, led by a cow and a little calf. 

 They did not rest again, and though I followed on the 

 spoor for half an hour I was unable to catch them up. 



I then climbed a tree to see if I could detect my 

 gun-bearer, guide or orderly, whom I had left behind 

 when I began the stalk, but they were nowhere to be 

 seen ; but under a large yak tree to the south I saw 

 a topi feeding. So I came down and started towards 

 him, but I had not seen some others, and a frightened 

 snort on my right made me crouch down behind a 

 bush. Just then another topi showed behind a tree 

 about 150 yards away, so I took a quick shot and 

 heard the bullet hit. I ran forward and saw the 

 whole herd disappear in the bush, the one I had 

 wounded being last and apparently in difficulties. 

 I followed him for some time, but could not find him, 

 and, as the sun was now very low, struck out in 

 a north-westerly direction where I thought camp 

 was. 



Greatly to my relief some ten minutes later I 

 heard my orderly whistling for me, and calling back 

 in answer I soon found him, and some thirty minutes 



no 



