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 a crippled 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 a herd 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, I was startled by the wildebeeste 

 suddenly jumping to his feet. For a moment he 



