THE ATBARA RIVER 101 



heard them too far up the stream to be of any use. 

 Saw no Heuglin at all. 



December 8th. Spent another fruitless night in 

 lion-hole. Again failed to see Heuglin throughout 

 morning stalk. However, the hippos were again at 

 home, and on the far bank I simultaneously saw a 

 herd of ariel and a sounder of wart-hog. The hippos 

 fed to within 50 yards of the shore, but would not 

 show themselves. Finally, I made a man throw in 

 a stone and up came four heads. I got a steady shot 

 with the '470 at the nape of the neck of one, and am 

 practically sure that I hit, although there was no 

 result. Got back to breakfast at 12, and returned 

 at 3, but no sign of dead hippo. Stalked up to 

 within 15 yards of three female Heuglin and a fawn, 

 but saw no buck at all. 



December 9th. Returned at daybreak to look for 

 dead hippo, but no sign of him. K., goat-boy, who 

 accompanied me, succeeded in losing himself with my 

 shot-gun. I returned with M., to look for him, but 

 there was no sign : on the way home, by a snap- 

 shot at 80 yards or so, I bagged a 10|-inch Heuglin, 

 missing him with the right barrel, but shooting him 

 through the neck with the left, just as he disappeared. 

 All this detained the ready-packed caravan until 

 9.30 a.m., and we had a very hot march to Umgarra, 

 at the junction of the Atbara and Settit, arriving at 



