2G4 THE HUNTING GEOUNDS 



I cave a shrill whistle, which caused the bull to 

 extend his ears, and turn his head in my direction, 

 presenting me with a full view of his forehead. 

 Now was my time ; I took a steady aim between 

 the eyes, and gave him both barrels, right and left, 

 at a second's interval. A hoarse scream followed 

 the report, awakening the echoes of the forest, the 

 huge beast staggered back a couple of paces, and 

 reeled like a drunken man, then his sturdy legs 

 gave way under him., and he sunk to the ground in 

 a kneeling position. I snatched a second gun from 

 Chineah, and fearing he might only be stunned, 

 stepped up to him, and sent a ball crashing into his 

 eye, but it was not required, he never stirred, he 

 was dead. The female who was with him rushed 

 frantically through the jungle, trumpeting, and the 

 rest of the herd, taking alarm, dashed down a 

 densely crowded valley at a pace which defied 

 pursuit. 



Chineah cut off the tail as a trophy, and after 

 we had examined our prize, whose tusks appeared 

 to weigh heavily, we rejoined the rest of the gang, 

 who were anxiously awaiting our arrival, and once 

 more rolling ourselves in our blankets were soon in 

 the arms of Morpheus. 



He who sleeps with a forest tree for his canopy, 

 a stone for his pillow, and the ground for his bed, 

 is not likely to play the sluggard, and I was up and 

 astir as soon as the soft blue light of morning 

 became perceptible along the eastern horizon. A 



