114 AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 



and both the others shifted their positions slightly, curling 

 their tails. I instantly dropped on my knee, and getting the 

 bead just behind the big bull's shoulder, I fired with the 

 three-hundred-yard sight. I heard the "pack" of the bullet 

 as it struck just where I aimed; and away went all three 

 giraffes at their queer rocking-horse canter. Running for- 

 ward I emptied my magazine, firing at the big bull and also 

 at one of his smaller companions, and then, slipping into 

 the barrel what proved to be a soft-nosed bullet, I fired at 

 the latter again. The giraffe was going straightaway and 

 it was a long shot, at four or five hundred yards; but by 

 good luck the bullet broke its back and down it came. 

 The others were now getting over the crest of the hill, 

 but the big one was evidently sick, and we called and 

 beckoned to the two saises to hurry up with the horses. 

 The moment they arrived we jumped on, and Captain 

 Slatter cantered up a neighboring hill so as to mark the 

 direction in which the giraffes went if I lost sight of them. 

 Meanwhile I rode full speed after the giant quarry. I 

 was on the tranquil sorrel, the horse I much preferred in 

 riding down game of any kind, because he had a fair turn 

 of speed, and yet was good about letting me get on and off. 

 As soon as I reached the hill-crest I saw the giraffes ahead 

 of me, not as far off as I had feared, and I raced toward them 

 without regard to rotten ground and wart-hog holes. The 

 wounded one lagged behind, but when I got near he put 

 on a spurt, and as I thought I was close enough I leaped 

 off, throwing the reins over the sorrel's head, and opened 

 fire. Down went the big bull, and I thought my task was 

 done. But as I went back to mount the sorrel he struggled 

 to his feet again and disappeared after his companion 

 among the trees, which were thicker here, as we had reached 

 the bottom of the valley. So I tore after him again, and in 

 a minute came to a dry watercourse. Scrambling into 

 and out of this I saw the giraffes ahead of me just begin- 

 ning the ascent of the opposite slope; and touching the 

 horse with the spur we flew after the wounded bull. This 



