306 BAD LUCK. 



raising my head above a small hillock, I found myself 

 within seventy yards of this splendid antelope. He 

 was standing still, evidently listening. A minute 

 sufficed to take aim and fire. I heard a thud, and 

 the koodoo ran a few yards and fell. This was a 

 cause of general rejoicing among the men, as this 

 animal is highly prized by them on account of the 

 abundance of fat to be found in it. 



When within less than a mile of camp, elephants 

 were again heard, and so close were they, that in less 

 than ten minutes we were within a hundred yards of 

 the herd, which was in the bed of the river, evident- 

 ly looking for water. We had a good view of them at 

 the distance mentioned from the bank, and counted 

 forty, but there might have been more. I had reason 

 to hope for success, as the banks on either side 

 were steep, and I should have little difficulty in get- 

 ting within distance in a very few minutes. But, 

 alas ! when within about forty yards the report of a 

 gun in the direction of camp alarmed them, and a 

 hasty, headlong retreat followed, leaving me much 

 disappointed at this piece of bad luck. 



On our return to camp w^e discovered that the of- 

 fender was Chinsoro who had fired at an antelope of 

 some kind or other, with the Brown Bess of one of 

 the men. He was very sorry when he was made 

 aware of the mischief he had done. Heavy rain fell 

 all night, and as my hut had been but badly thatched, 

 I was well soaked before morning. However, day- 

 light brought with it a clear sky, and, directly it dawn- 

 ed, everyone set to work to make the huts (of which 

 four stood along the river's bank) water-tight. This 



