ON THE STONY ATHI 231 



sufficient for this. The position, it must be remembered, 

 is one that will cut off the animals as they approach the 

 water ; yet it must not be so near as to disturb other 

 animals that may already be drinking there — say from 

 400 to 800 yards. The configuration of the land — 

 drooping in successive steps towards the lower levels — • 

 may assist in acquiring the desired position ; otherwise 

 much crawling may be necessary. 



" Once having attained this position, no cover is 

 needed, though should there be any, so much the better. 

 The essential now is to remain rigidly motionless. The 

 least movement, especially when the game is yet distant, 

 is instantly fatal — the kongoni spots it. The nearer he 

 comes the safer you are, since he is then looking over 

 you. Once when the pilot approached so directly that 

 he almost looked like treading on us, my hunter in his 

 excitement pinched me so severely that I was obliged 

 to kick him. In doing so, I not only moved, but made 

 a slight noise ; yet the kongoni noticed nothing, and a 

 moment later I killed the wildebeest at the muzzle of 

 the rifle. 



" Another incident illustrates the comparative 

 blindness of the hartebeests in the pride of piloting their 

 shaggy friends. This time we had reached a position 

 beyond which we dare not advance, the ground in front 

 being burnt and absolutely bare. But we were near 

 enough — too near, as the sequel showed — to their final 

 line of approach. As the game comes in, the hunter 

 must of course concentrate all his attention on the rifle 

 and its aim, since no subsequent movement is possible. 

 At that precise period, say 200 yards away, the pilot 

 was at least fifty yards ahead of his charge. With eyes 

 glued to the telescope-sight, I was of course unable any 

 longer to follow their relative movements. Presently the 

 hartebeest appeared on the object-glass ; but scarce had 

 he passed by than the black muzzle of the wildebeest 

 came into the picture, not one yard behind ! This so 

 disconcerted me that already the psychological moment 

 for pulling trigger had gone, the bullet struck too far 



