MY FI VE B UFF ALOES. 3 5 



to reach any dense thicket. However, the blood became 

 more and more scanty, and as the ground was rocky 

 shale, it was difficult work following her. As we were 

 in a hurry to get at the other troops of buffaloes, we 

 agreed to give up the slow work of spooring, and to 

 make a free cast forward in the hopes of stirring her. 



The ground was a small hog-backed ridge, with bushes 



sparsely scattered over it. C agreed to go along the 



top, and I went along the left slope, about half-way 

 from the crest to the hollow. We were about 200 

 yards apart. We went steadily forward, keeping our 

 eyes open, and had been advancing for about three 



minutes when I heard the report of C 's rifle, and 



casting my eyes to the right in his direction saw her 

 coming down the slope almost straight towards me, 

 sending the shale stone flying in all directions as she 

 rattled along. She was running in a lopsided way, the 

 blood was oozing from her mouth, and she carried her 

 head in the peculiar manner a buffalo does when it is 

 vicious ; z>., straight out in front of her, something like 

 a pointer drawing on a covey of birds. My gun-bearer, 

 a brave lad of about fifteen named Moyen, called out to 

 me in Caffre, " Take care, sir ". I was in hopes that she 

 might not perceive us and might gallop past about 

 twenty yards ahead, thereby giving a nice broadside 

 shot, but unluckily she observed us, and at once swerved 

 and came full steam at us. I knelt down, covered her 

 chest carefully, and dropped her stone dead when she 

 was within about fifteen yards of me. 



I had now bagged two buffaloes, but neither of them 

 had been clean killed, and I regretted the loss of the first 

 bull I fired at. My feelings might be described as being 

 a compound of excitement, gratification and annoyance. 



