xxx BACK TO NAIROBI 379 



- over the rise and thundering along through the 

 long grass came the whole herd of about 150, 

 making straight as a die for us at a steady gallop, 

 the charge being headed by a bull with huge horns. 

 It was an impressive and awe-inspiring sight to 

 watch the great herd come on at a determined pace, 

 with horns lowered and tails up, looking the very 

 embodiment of savage power. 



The moment was a very critical one, and the 

 dangerous situation in which we now found our- 

 selves had developed with startling suddenness. I 

 knew that our only chance was to shoot the leader, 

 as the whole herd would then probably turn aside 



and not trample us to death; so, saying to my 



f> 



companion, "We must drop the leading bull or 

 we're done," we both let drive. 



When they got within about thirty yards of us, 

 the leader fell with a crash. On seeing this the 

 whole herd halted and stood looking at us as we lay 

 quietly on the ground in front of them, partly con- 

 cealed by the grass. The situation was so alarming 

 that the askaris lost their heads and opened fire. 

 Luckily they forgot in their terror to take any aim, 

 and their bullets ploughed into the ground, not ten 

 yards ahead. Had they gone into the herd, they 

 would have infuriated the beasts, and we should 

 inevitably have been trampled to death. The noise 

 and smoke from the black powder made by the 



