THE GREATER KUDU 



for a look at what I thought would prove the usual 

 impalla or sing-sing, and was just in time to catch the 

 spirals of a magnificent set of horns. It was the 

 greater kudu at last! 



I gave a little cluck of caution; and instantly, 

 without question, after the African fashion, the three 

 men ahead of me sank to the ground. Cuninghame 

 looked at me inquiringly. I motioned with my eyes. 

 He raised his glasses for one look. 



"That's the fellow," he said quietly. 



The kudu, as though he had merely stepped into 

 the opening to give us a sight of him, melted into 

 the brush. 



It was magnificent and exciting to have seen this 

 wonderful beast after so long a quest, but by the 

 same token it was not very encouraging for all that. 

 If we had had all the daylight we needed, and un- 

 limited time, it would have been quite a feat to stalk 

 the wary beast in that thick, noisy cover. Now it 

 was almost dark, and would be quite dark within the 

 half hour. The kudu had moved out of sight. 

 Whether he had gone on some distance, or whether 

 he still lingered near the edge of the tiny opening was 

 another matter to be determined, and to be deter- 

 mined quickly. 



Leaving Kongoni and Mavrouki, Cuninghame and 

 I wriggled pantingly up the hill, as fast and at the 



369 



