132 THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



cover where it hopes for better luck at remaining con- 

 cealed. And occasionally some mighty crash brings 

 one up all standing, every muscle taut, every sense 

 alert. Then, if all is silent, comes maneuvering, 

 cautious reconnoitering, a scouting for a sight either 

 of the beast or his tracks. Or, if the crashes continue, 

 a scurrying to and fro for a point of vantage and reason- 

 able safety. Probably it is an old rhinoceros disturbed 

 at his nap, or a stray buffalo. If you are hunting 

 neither of these creatures — and we are not — your 

 whole desire is to avoid an encounter. To do this, 

 however, means no unwise policy of concealment. It 

 is well to see your beast as soon as possible in order to 

 know how to pay due respect to his choice of routes. 



One practical word of advice: when engaged in this 

 harmless and pleasing pastime, do not carry your 

 lightest gun in your hand. If anything unexpected 

 happens, it is well to have your heaviest armament 

 where it is handiest. For that reason I was carrying 

 the .405. 



We wandered along down this valley for two or 

 three miles; and were just beginning to think the sun 

 hot, when we came to a slight widening of the brush 

 patches. Sanguiki and his men were out of sight 

 across the ravine. Memba Sasa had angled fifteen or 

 twenty feet to the left with the purpose of looking 

 down a hole. Suddenly I heard to my right a tearing 

 scramble and crashing of small brush. 



