196 THE MAN-EATERS OF TSAVO CHAP. 
dried-up water-hole. Game abounded in all direc- 
tions, but the animals were much more shy than 
they had been in the morning, and it was in vain 
that I stalked—if it can be called “stalking,” when 
as a matter of fact one has to move in the open— 
splendid specimens of Thomson’s and Grant's 
gazelle. I might have attempted a shot once or 
twice, but the probability was that owing to the 
long range it would have resulted only in a wound, 
and I think there is nothing so painful as to see an 
animal limping about in acrippled condition. In this 
fruitless manner we covered several miles, and I was 
beginning to think that we should have to return to 
camp without so much as firing a shot. Just then, 
however, I saw aherd of wildebeeste, and with much 
care managed to get within three hundred yards of 
them. I singled out the biggest head and waiting 
for a favourable moment, fired at him, dropping 
him at once. I ran up to the fallen beast, which 
appeared to be dying, and told Mahina to drive the 
hunting knife right through his heart so as to put 
him quickly out of all pain. As Mahina was not 
doing this as skilfully or as quickly as I thought it 
might be done, and seemed unable to pierce the 
tough hide, I handed him my rifle and took the 
knife in order to do it myself. Just as I raised the 
knife to strike, | was startled by the wildebeeste 
suddenly jumping to his feet. For a moment he 
