1S2 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



within five hundred yards of the herd, who were 

 quietly browsing, unconscious of danger. 



Here I lay for some time at full length on the 

 ground behind my screen so as to give my com- 

 panions time to get posted, and taking out my tele- 

 scope I surveyed the herd for some time before I 

 could make out the position of the leader, whom at 

 last I twigged lying down and chewing the cud, 

 under the shade of a bauble-bush, some short dis- 

 tance from the others. I stole gently forwards, 

 sometimes stooping and walking, and at others 

 creeping on my hands and knees, (which is ex- 

 tremely laborious work,) until I got within two 

 hundred yards of him, when, feeling out of breath 

 and rather unsteady, I rested for some time. As 

 soon as I had recovered my breath, I slowly com- 

 menced my onward progress until I got within a 

 hundred and twenty yards, when, from the motion 

 of the herd, I saw that my walking bush had ex- 

 cited some suspicion, for they began to close up, 

 and crane their necks in my direction ; which 

 movement was immediately perceived and under- 

 stood by their leader, who sprang on his feet, 

 stamped, and advanced some five or six paces to- 

 wards me, snuffing the air as if to reconnoitre. 

 This position offered me a fair shot — I raised my 

 rifle and pulled the trigger just as a low bark escaped 

 him, (the signal of alarm to the herd.) It was his 

 last warning, for my grooved-bore was true — the 

 bullet sped, and entered his heart ; he sprang high 



