206 KOODOOS. 



tract, covered with light forest, and still more arid 

 and rocky. 



Having descended a steep hill, I crossed the first 

 spoor of a herd of elephants, and determined to track 

 them up. The men protested, saying if we did not 

 continue our course we should not reach the water 

 that night, and that there was none nearer than the 

 river mentioned. I told them I would follow the 

 spoor for half an hour, and promised to return, should 

 we not have found the herd by the expiration of that 

 time. They were content, and said '' Go on." I then 

 started at a brisk pace, and at the end of the appoint- 

 ed time turned back. The elephants had not stopped 

 once up to the spot where I left their tracks. The 

 hard walking told on the men, especially those who 

 carried loads, and the remainder of the water was now 

 divided between us, my share being about half a 

 tumbler, with a few drops of lime-juice. 



Once more we faced for the stream. At half-past 

 three we, were one and all attacked by thirst, the 

 Makololos swearing at the Machingas for not finding 

 water, as promised, and the Machingas saying it was 

 my fault for following the elephants. About this 

 time five koodoos jumped to their feet in some long 

 grass in a ravine a little below me. For an instant 

 they stared at my unusual appearance, and then 

 bolted ; but one of their number stared a second too 

 long, and enabled me to take a steady shot. I heard 

 the thud of the bullet. The koodoo ran a few yards 

 after his companions and fell dead — shot clean through 

 behind the shoulder, distance about eighty yards. 

 As the horns were perfect, I took the head, but we 



