62 THE WOUNDED WATERBUCK. 



As tlie sun rose above the smoke, so the light in the 

 valley increased, till at last a clear and burning orb 

 lit the whole picture. The camp was concealed from 

 view by the large trees, but I could now see many na- 

 tive women busy at the river drawing water, or wash- 

 ing their cooking pots. The camp, which but twenty 

 minutes since I had left so silent, Avas now all astir, and 

 through my glass I could distinguish Eeid looking 

 about amongst the sections of the boat, evidently 

 anxious to commence the task of putting her to- 

 gether. 



That the early bird picks up the worm is an old 

 saying, but this morning I lost my chance of a shot at 

 an antelope through my delay on this hill, for on 

 entering the forest on the other side I discovered, by 

 the fresh footprints, that a large herd of waterbuck had 

 passed by into the long grass a few moments before. 

 No doubt the rays of the sun warned them that it was 

 time to seek shelter for the day. I did not follow 

 them, as I was anxious if possible to recover the buck 

 I had wounded last night. 



After some little difficulty I succeeded in finding his 

 tracks, close to where I had left them to hunt the 

 buffalo, and as there had been no rain during the 

 night, or anything to obliterate his footprints, I was 

 enabled to follow him up with hopes of success. 

 While following the path he had chosen I found tw^o 

 or three places where he had lain for some time in 

 the grass, and all were marked with blood. This in- 

 creased my hopes, and the chase became even more 

 exciting than if I had only fired the shot a few mo- 

 ments before. 



