12 LARGE GAME. chap. i. 



and water, and are occasionally ten or twelve feet deep, 

 but I had found means to get across them ; this one, how- 

 ever, extended into the reed thicket on each side, and as 

 it seemed deep, from the amount of mud the animal had 

 taken out with it on to the opposite side, and as it was 

 too broad to jump without noise, I preferred entering the 

 reeds, dense as they were, to the chance of getting bogged, 

 and disturbing everything within half a mile in my efforts 

 to flounder out. So, as silently as might be, I searched 

 for a crossing, opening up the obstructing reeds with my 

 gun, and taking ten minutes to every two yards. The 

 hole only extended a short distance, and just as I passed 

 the end of it I heard the faint twittering of the rhinoceros- 

 birds — a sound which I recognised as one made by them 

 when sitting contentedly on an animal's body after satis- 

 fying their hunger, and which did not seem to proceed 

 from more than a couple of yards off. It was an anxious 

 moment, and for a second I wished myself outside in 

 safety. Undoubtedly a buffalo, if not a lion, was close to 

 me, and such of the former as lie in the reeds are equally 

 formidable antagonists with the latter. I remained still 

 for a second or two, and then, gathering courage, I stole 

 on as if my life depended on my not even making a rustle; 

 inch by inch I got nearer, till the twittering became so 

 loud that I knew in another second I must see the game. 

 Another pause, and then, with a steady hand, though my 

 heart was thumping against my ribs in such a fashion that 

 I half feared it would be heard, I put aside a few more 

 reeds, and found myself unperceived so close to the mighty 

 head of a buffalo, that had I stretched out my gun the 

 barrels would have pressed its forehead. It was no time 



