46 LARGE GAME. CHAP. i. 



in search of, which, doubling back on its spoor, had taken 

 up its position with the view of attacking any one who 

 might follow it ; and I had reason to be thankful that I 

 was not alone, as my carelessness had placed my life in 

 jeopardy. We then went after it again, proceeding, how- 

 ever, after the lesson we had received, in the most orthodox 

 fashion. This consists in one man following the spoor, 

 while the other keeps parallel to him a yard or two distant, 

 carefully searching all the thickets and gloomy recesses 

 where a buffalo might conceal itself, so that the undivided 

 attention of the spoorer, who is most in danger, may be 

 wholly given to his work, and in the case of a charge upon 

 either, one may be in safety and able to use his weapon 

 with effect. In the above way, then, we tracked it right 

 through the bush, but as our progress was very slow from 

 the caution necessary to be used, the sun was setting as we 

 found that it had gone out and taken to the open, heading 

 for a cover some half-mile off ; so we retraced our steps and 

 covered over the three killed with branches to keep the 

 vultures off, as well as to scare the hyenas by causing 

 them to think that some trap was concealed, and then 

 made for camp well satisfied with our bag of six buffaloes. 

 Next morning, it being the general opinion of the 

 hunters that the one we had left could not go far, we took 

 up its spoor where we had left it. A disturbed or wounded 

 buffalo always gallops in the open, and it was therefore 

 easy for our numerous party, consisting of myself, a hunter, 

 a gun-bearer, and three men to carry the hide and meat, 

 to follow it so far ; and even after it had entered the cover 

 we experienced no difficulty until after we had found the 

 place where it had lain down ; but as here the last signs 



