THE LAST FRONTIER 



Generally, of course, the creatures of the jungle saw 

 us first. We became aware of them by a crash or a 

 rustling or a scamper. Then we stood stock still, 

 listening with all our ears for some sound distin- 

 guishing to the species. Thus I came to recognize 

 the queer barking note of the bushbuck, for example; 

 and to realize how profane and vulgar that graceful 

 and beautiful creature, the impalla, can be when he 

 forgets himself. As for the rhinoceros, he does not 

 care how much noise he makes, nor how badly he 

 scares you. 



Personally, I liked very well to circle out in the 

 more open country until about three o'clock, then to 

 enter the river jungle and work my way slowly back 

 toward camp. At that time of day the shadows were 

 lengthening, the birds and animals were beginning 

 to stir about. In the cooling nether world of shadow 

 we slipped silently from thicket to thicket, from tree 

 to tree; and the jungle people fled from us, or with- 

 drew, or gazed curiously, or cursed us as their dis- 

 positions varied. 



While thus returning one evening I saw my first 

 colobus. He was swinging rapidly from one tree 

 to another, his long black and white fur shining 

 against the sun. I wanted him very much, and 

 promptly let drive at him with the 405 Winchester. 

 I always carried this heavier weapon in the dense jun- 



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