A WALKING SHOT. 323 



There was short time for aiming, but prepared for 

 the place of his appearance, the sportsmen were able 

 to get each a hurried snap shot ; and the beast 

 acknowledged the salute with a roar and a tre- 

 mendous bound, which instantly carried him out of 

 sight, in the jungle on the other side of the road. 



" A hit ! " exclaimed Mackenzie. 



" Decidedly ; I caught the thud," responded Nor- 

 man. " But one bullet at least was wide ; it kicked 

 up the dust well behind him." 



" I wonder if he would have taken a fancy to 

 either of our tattoos," said Hawkes. " If we had 

 continued along the road, we should just about have 

 given him a favourable opportunity of taking his 

 choice." 



" There is no answering for his tastes and 

 appetites," replied Mackenzie. " Though he had 

 such a good dinner last night if it is our friend of 

 the kill he might still have a comer left for a bit 

 of pony. But come along, if you fellows have 

 loaded ; we ought to try and intercept him again." 



While these observations were being made, reload- 

 ing had been in full operation ; and when completed, 

 the three, with an equal number of natives, crossed 

 the river by the road and then continued along the 

 bank on that side. 



By keeping on the chord of the arc, formed by 



Y 2 



