THE SETTIT RIVER 171 



stalked up to the spot, we saw a couple of does 

 disappear into the thorns above the valley in which 

 they had been grazing. We began to track them 

 up, and I am bound to say that both A. and M. 

 performed this work well for fully three hours. After a 

 couple of hours A. saw koodoo 40 yards off, but said 

 that the big bull was not among them. A quarter of 

 a mile further M. signalled a couple of big horns in 

 the bushes ; but after what A. had said, I was not 

 going to shoot at 100 yards, more or less, on spec, 

 so took out my field-glasses, and whilst I was trying 

 to make the beast out, he took alarm and bolted, and 

 I was never sure of his identity. We stuck to the 

 trail until 10 a.m., but I was uncertain whether 

 among the numerous tracks we were still after the big 

 bull, and as it was clear that in such country one 

 could not hope for more than a snapshot at disturbed 

 animals, I gave the signal for home at a little after 

 10 a.m., and we got back to camp much disappointed 

 at 11 a.m. At 3 p.m. I returned to the meshra, where 

 nothing occurred until after sunset, when, just before 

 it got too dark to shoot, three koodoo, clearly those 

 of the 22nd, came down to drink. I had a long look 

 at the bigger bull, but decided that he was not worth 

 shooting. They drank within 50 yards, and went off 

 without knowing of their danger. 



February 25th. Went to the meshra before day- 

 break, and sat with A. for an hour without seeing 



