A SEVERE SHOCK. 313 



sighting the poor beast, who, from the quantity of 

 blood in his spoor was evidently severely wounded. 

 My attendant having no\v rejoined me, I managed 

 this time to fire all my three barrels; but, though 

 every bullet told on his carcase, they had not the 

 effect of bringing him down. To my surprise and 

 satisfaction, nevertheless, he, instead of trying to 

 escape (perhaps from being unequal to the task), 

 began gradually to retrace his steps. 



Hearing just at this time a peculiar hammering 

 sort of noise close under the hill, I turned aside to 

 ascertain the cause. Jt arose, I found, from a party 

 of Ovambos, who were plundering some bees' nests. 

 Several dogs accompanied the men, which, on our 

 approach, began to bark most furiously. For a 

 moment I really thought my quarry would escape 

 me; but my misgivings, fortunately, proved un- 

 founded, for T soon overtook the poor creature 

 resting under a small tree. I crept quite close to 

 him, and once more the contents of all my barrels 

 entered his ">ody, though without apparent eil'ect, 

 as he remained quite motionless. 



Unfortunat M\ , whilst pulling the trigger of th.- 

 small-bore, both barrels went off together ; the gun 

 bcin^ light, and very heavily loaded, the recoil 

 was most powerful. The stock struck me violent Iv 

 on the face, and the left-hand cock, burying itself 

 deeply in my upper lip, loosened some of mv 

 teeth. The : hock almost stunned me; indeed, it 

 was enough to 'mve ] "">strated a horse, yet 1 almost, 

 instantly reccn jred myself. 



Bullets for i iv lar/e rifle, and powder, now 



