MY FIVE BUFFALOES. 21 



Taking my double twelve rifle I set off with C at 



a smart walk. We reached the place ; it was a nasty 

 looking thicket of thorns, here and there comparatively 

 open, so that one could see a buffalo at thirty or forty 

 yards distance, but in other parts terribly thick, and it 

 was in one of these thick places that she had taken 

 refuge. 



" She is in there," said C , pointing to a particularly 



nasty spot. The remark caused me to suddenly remem- 

 ber that for some time past I had intended to make a 

 will, but had from certain considerations neglected to do 



so. " Loose the dog again," said C to one of the 



Caffres. " Hi in, Sancho, good dog, sa-sa-sssa!" 



Loyal Sancho, obedient to the command, went in at 

 once, and soon gave tongue. 



A portentous grunting, blowing and crashing of the 

 bush showed that the cow buffalo was on her legs, and 

 that Sancho was having a lively time of it. We cautiously 

 advanced into the bush. At last I noticed a kind of 

 path or avenue in the bush. It had been evidently made 

 by the game. About forty yards farther on along this 

 game path was a small tree with a trunk about a foot 

 in diameter, not sufficient indeed to protect a man from 

 a buffalo, but it was sufficient to enable a man to make 

 one dodge behind it if charged. It would, however, only 

 be available for one man. 



I said : " Look, C , at that small tree. I will get 



forward and perhaps from that spot I shall be able to see 

 her. You had better remain here, and if she charges me 

 you can see the whole performance and can cover me 

 with your rifle." 



Having arranged this matter, I went forward and took 

 up my station behind the tree. I could see the bush 



