THE LAND OF FOOTPRINTS 



puzzle pictures. Re-examinatian generally de- 

 velops new and unexpected beasts. We repeated 

 to each other aloud the results of our scrutiny, 

 always without removing the glasses from our 

 eyes. 



''Oryx, one," said F.; "oryx, two." 

 "Giraffe," reported B., "and a herd of impalla." 

 I saw another giraffe, and another oryx, then two 

 rhinoceroses. 



The three gunbearers squatted on their heels be- 

 hind us, their fierce eyes staring straight ahead, 

 seeing with the naked eye what we were finding with 

 six-power glasses. 



We turned to descend the hill. In the very centre 

 of the deep shade of a clump of trees, I Saw the gleam 

 of a waterbuck's horns. While I was telling of this, 

 the beast stepped from his concealment, trotted a 

 short distance upstream and turned to climb a little 

 ridge parallel to that by which we were descending. 

 About halfway up he stopped, staring in our direc- 

 tion, his head erect, the slight ruff under his neck 

 standing forward. He was a good four hundred 

 yards away. B., who wanted him, decided the shot 

 too chancy. He and F. slipped backward until they 

 had gained the cover of the little ridge, then has- 

 tened down the bed of the ravine. Their purpose 

 was to follow the course already taken by the water- 



IIO 



