74 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



killed, and was walking along in an absent-minded way 

 with my rifle under my arm. As a rule when carrying 

 my rifle in this manner I kept it at half-cock, but by a 

 providential interposition, or by accident, whichever you 

 may please to term it, I had it full-cock on this occasion. 

 A few minutes previously I got a glimpse of a bull 

 water-buck, and having suddenly cocked my rifle had re- 

 placed it under my arm, forgetting to lower the hammers. 

 I have no doubt whatever that but for this trivial acci- 

 dent I should not have been alive to-day to relate what 

 happened. 



We were passing through some grass about two feet 

 in height, with clumps of low scrub here and there. We 

 were in Indian file. I was leading, and my spoorer, a 

 Caffre named Jacha, was following me. He only had 

 one eye, and that eye was keener to detect game than 

 two pairs of ordinary optics ; but on this occasion it 

 overlooked a terrible danger, for the reason that the 

 danger, though within a few yards of us, was invisible. 



There was a rustle in a patch of scrub about six or 

 seven yards before me, and suddenly out of it uprose a 

 wounded buffalo with bloody mouth and glaring eye, 

 which wheeled round facing me in act to charge. It all 

 took place quicker than thought. My rifle went up to 

 my shoulder instinctively, and I dropped him in his 

 tracks with a ball through the brain. 



So sudden was the whole affair that my heart had 

 not time even to give a great thump. I do not quite 

 remember how I did it. I am sure I did not take a fine 

 sight, and I doubt whether I looked at the rib of my 

 rifle at all. 



There he lay, and while the vaporous cloud of smoke still 

 hung before me, I simply exclaimed : " Gracious God ! " 



