72 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



as exposure to thirst, and at last I was tempted to follow 

 the example of the Caffres. However, I strained the 

 liquid through a handkerchief to render it a little clearer. 

 It had a bitter taste, but it had the desired effect of 

 mitigating my thirst. 



One day I was hunting amongst the gullies at the foot 

 of the Libombo. I was descending into a nullah, and 

 had not the remotest idea that a buffalo was within miles 

 of me. Suddenly Four-and-six dashed past me into the 

 nullah with a growl, and then before me, within ten yards, 

 uprose an old bull buffalo, grey with age. He glanced 

 at me for a moment, but, fortunately for me, thought 

 better of it, and wheeling round made along the bed of 

 the nullah. I raised the rifle and pressed the trigger, 

 but it was half cock. I had to remove the rifle from my 

 shoulder to put it at full cock, and then managed to give 

 him a ball in the croup just as he was disappearing. He 

 managed to mount the other bank of the nullah, and 

 Four-and-six brought him to bay there. One of my 

 Caffres incautiously ran up the other bank of the nullah 

 to mark the buffalo, but came suddenly upon him. The 

 buffalo instantly charged him. The Caffre sprang into 

 a small tree, but could not climb more than a certain 

 height from the ground. When I crossed the nullah 

 and arrived on the scene, there was the Caffre embracing 

 the tree, and there was the buffalo, making his utmost 

 endeavours to reach him with his horns. 



Had the Caffre been six inches lower down he would 

 have been gored to a certainty. Four-and-six was doing 

 his best to create a diversion by biting the buffalo's heels, 

 but it was so enraged by the sight of the Caffre that it 

 took no notice of the dog's attentions. 



I killed the bull with four shots. 



