GREATLY DISAPPOINTED 129 



the other, and crossed the stream in our direction. 

 Taba had foretold this, saying that the grazing was 

 better on our side. For some time we lay low, till 

 the whole herd disappeared below us ; then we 

 rushed down, hiding behind every rock, and pre- 

 sently found ourselves within 250 yards of the 

 animals, whom we now saw feeding on the slopes 

 under us. I was just on the point of starting 

 towards a small pinnacle, w r ithin easy rifle range of 

 the herd, when I noticed that they all of a sudden 

 had become suspicious. A whiff of wind had pro- 

 bably reached them, and in an instant they were 

 off, making back to the opposite side. Cruel luck, 

 thought I, as I lowered my -303 and fired at the 

 nearest one. It was a long shot, but the chance had 

 to be taken. He staggered for a moment, then con- 

 tinued with the others. As they crossed the stream 

 at full gallop I fired several more shots into the 

 midst of the herd — there being no question of picking- 

 out the largest — and saw one of them fall, whilst two 

 others remained behind the main bulk, struggling 

 up the steep slopes and looking very sick. We 

 waited a little, marking the direction taken by the 

 two wounded ones, and started as soon as they had 

 gone over a ridge. I was greatly disappointed when 

 I came up to the dead beast, though I felt I had only 



