THE BUFFALO 



of a twig or the rolling of a pebble. Then we clam- 

 bered to the top of the bank, wormed our way for- 

 ward another fifty feet to the shelter of a tiny bush, 

 and stretched out to recuperate. We lay there some 

 time, sheltered from the sun. Then ahead of us 

 suddenly rumbled a deep bellow. We were fairly 

 upon the herd! 



Cautiously F. who was nearest the centre of the 

 bush, raised himself alongside the stem to look. He 

 could see where the beasts were lying, not fifty yards 

 away, but he could make out nothing but the fact 

 of great black bodies taking their ease in the grass 

 under the shade of trees. So much he reported to 

 us; then rose again to keep watch. 



Thus we waited the rest of the afternoon. The 

 sun dipped at last toward the west, a faint irregular 

 breeze wandered down from the hills, certain birds 

 awoke and uttered their clear calls, an unsuspected 

 kongoni stepped from the shade of a tree over the 

 way and began to crop the grass, the shadows were 

 lengthening through the trees. Then ahead of us an 

 uneasiness ran through the herd. We in the grass 

 could hear the mutterings and grumblings of many 

 great animals. Suddenly F. snapped his fingers, 

 stooped low and darted forward. We scrambled to 

 our feet and followed. 



Across a short open space we ran, bent double, to 



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