A LARGE HERD OF ARROLA 



through very dry and arid bush country. Here I 

 saw a large herd of giraffe, thirty-eight in all, mostly 

 young cows ; but they had had our wind and were 

 already in full flight. Towards sunset we once more 

 reached a large plain, covered with small trees and 

 short withered grass. I saw a large herd of oryx 

 feeding, and after a poor stalk took a shot, but only 

 managed to wound one. I was much annoyed, as I 

 needed meat, not only for myself, but for my men. 

 I had seen no arrola on the march, but the country 

 seemed very suitable, so I decided to camp and try 

 my luck on the following days. The heat had been 

 terrific and had tried men and camels severely, and 

 the long march had proved too much for the little 

 hare, who succumbed during the night ; but the 

 mongoose was growing more tame each day, and 

 seemed to enjoy the weather rather than the reverse. 

 My first day's hunting was unsuccessful. As soon 

 as I had left camp in the early morning I saw some 

 oryx in the distance, and started in their direction, but 

 there was little cover and I was doubtful of being 

 able to approach sufficiently close without alarming 

 them. But as I was moving slowly forward, I 

 suddenly saw to my left a large herd of arrola 

 walking slowly across the plain toward the bush. 

 Very quietly I turned back, and making a detour 

 reached the bush at a trot before they arrived ; then 

 settling myself in a comfortable position, so as to be 

 sure of my shot, I awaited them. They came all 

 right, twenty-eight in all, big bulls every one, except 

 the last two, which were young cows. I took careful 

 aim, and fired, hitting the foremost one rather far 

 back behind the shoulder. Then followed a series 

 of really shameful misses, and I finally lost sight of 



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