THE STORY OF AN OUTING 



and one hundred yards distant. The opening in the 

 leaves and grass made by continuous game travel was 

 filled with the bulk of this bull; it showed distinctly 

 black; evidently something had aroused suspicion, for 

 he ceased to advance, and stood looking directly toward 

 me. Comfortably resting my elbows on my knees, I 

 aimed at the center of the black with my .450-. 50x5 and 

 fired. They ran some way in the donga and came out; 

 I fired the other barrel just as they disappeared in the 

 thorns. The blood spoor made an easy trail. At about 

 two hundred yards he had turned and faced us, as we 

 could easily see from tracks and blood; a hundred yards 

 farther on he did the same. Major Kirkwood said to 

 me, "Now, Mr. Hepburn, I can't assume the respon- 

 sibility of taking you into a thorn scrub after a wounded 

 buffalo, accompanied by one that is uninjured. It is 

 more dangerous than you know; he is mortally wounded; 

 the gun-bearers and I will round him up all right; you 

 stay here." 



I relieved the Major of all responsibility and went 

 on, but they exercised the greatest scrutiny of every 

 thorn bush and every side trail, to guard against a side 

 or rear charge from the unwounded bull. I could hardly 

 restrain my impatience at the slow progress made, al- 

 though I knew their precautions to be amply justified. 

 Buffaloes are said to be treacherous, which means you 

 can't depend upon what they will do. They will screen 

 themselves in scrub or grass, watch your advance, and 

 charge you from side or rear when least expected. Un- 

 injured buffaloes accompanying a wounded one are prone 

 to do this. 



We soon came upon him, however, at bay and looking 



54 



