CHAP. i. BUFFALO. 19 



hesitated no longer than was necessary to understand the 

 position, and to gather what information we could as to 

 the whereabouts of the different herds. It was no use 

 to follow spoor, unless we should happen inside to come 

 upon any that was unmistakably fresh, for so many buffalo 

 had been moving about that morning that it would only 

 delay us to do so, so we simply went in and used our 

 eyes ; and as it was more than probable that if we found 

 any, we should find a group of at least three or four 

 together, we did not separate, though it is more usual to 

 do so in such cover. Two guns cannot, indeed, in general, 

 work well together, unless game is very plentiful, as the 

 one leading will get all the chances, while his follower will 

 have the pleasure of watching him fire, and of helping to 

 finish off the wounded game* besides occupying the most 

 dangerous position, for it is almost invariably the second 

 or third of a line who gets caught when a charge takes 

 place. 



We almost reached the other side before we came 

 across anything, and then a buffalo started from within a few 

 yards of us, but, as we did not see it, we went outside, 

 intending again to enter the reeds a little higher up. Just 

 as we did so a small troop of eight or ten broke below us, 

 and after a smart run we both got a distant, but ineffectual, 

 shot. Resuming our original intention, we were walking 

 up outside, when a very large buffalo cow, attended by a 

 flock of rhinoceros-birds, came out, running across, upon 

 which Umdumela, who was nearest, fired, and I made a 

 rush to cut it off, but after a couple of hundred yards it 

 suddenly pulled up, and wheeling round faced me ; the 

 spot was perfectly bare, not even a shrub anywhere about, 



