114 IN THE BUSH. 



the horizon dark and foggy, but, despite the obscurity, we 

 had made up our minds not to return to our dwelling- 

 places until we had killed a stag. We were delighted, 

 therefore, when one of our hounds " gave tongue," and 

 after a long circuit brought us in front of a cane-bush, 

 rendered impenetrable by a multitude of interwoven 

 lianas. There the dogs halted, and, after a moment's 

 hesitation, followed their leader around the inextricable 

 thicket, with ears pricked upright, eyes casting forth fire 

 and flames, nostrils open, and hams outstretched. Their 

 barks were frantic, terrible, and repeated at such short 

 intervals as to seem continuous. Echo reproduced the 

 clamour, which glided over the liquid surface of a neigh- 

 bouring lake, and faded away in the far distance, like the 

 flourish of a huntsman sounding his horn. 



We followed closely on the track of our dogs, and 

 ] tutting aside with one hand the branches of the trees 

 which struck our faces, with the other supported our 

 horses, lest they should make a false step. 



On the farther side of the cane-bush, the dogs had found 

 a passage through the reedy undergrowth, and we could 

 hear them in the middle yelping loudly. I begged my com- 

 panions to let me take the adventure upon myself; and 

 throwing off my upper coat, I bound a handkerchief about 

 my head to save my face and glasses. Putting fresh caps 

 on my gun, I penetrated with great difficulty into the 

 kind of alley made by the dogs. I was careful not to 

 make a noise, and trod as silently as possible in the midst 

 of the bush, where no human being had ever been before. 

 And soon, through the curtains of verdure which obscured 

 the sight, I came within two paces of the pack. One of 

 them was springing against the trunk of a tree, and biting 



