206 SAVAGE SUDAN 



possessed by my pal, Mr Willoughby , Lowe. The 

 following faithfully describes this fine performance. When 

 first sighted, the enemy, five in number, were distant 

 500 yards and among scrub that concealed all but their 

 necks. They were already moving- away, alarmed, and 

 in an ordinary sporting sense presented no sort of chance 

 whatever. That circumstance in no way disconcerted 

 my expert friend if a creature exists that has to be 

 "collected," then Lowe may be trusted to collect it. 



With sights set at 700 yards, he opened rapid 

 magazine-fire, sending volley after volley right over the 

 heads of the flying foe, each bullet plugging into the 

 sun-dried soil beyond and throwing up terrifying spurts 

 of dust and broken boughs. This tornado close in front 

 appeared to the ostriches yet more fearsome than the 

 distant pom-pomming" behind and soon they wheeled to 

 seek a safer course to starboard. The change brought 

 no relief. With altered line of aim, that ceaseless series 

 of concussions and explosions was renewed on the fresh 

 front earthquakes, the bewildered Struthios may well 

 have thought them. Whichever way they turned the 

 very earth ahead seemed to spurt forth in geysers. At 

 length, in sheer panic and perplexity, the whole quintette, 

 moving at hurricane speed, crossed full broadside at 200 

 yards, and the biggest got a bullet amidships. Later 

 I witnessed a similar performance with a hyena. Bullets 

 rained around him till finally two went through him! 



Such shooting-practice (and extravagance in ammuni- 

 tion ! ) was something entirely new to me ; but for the 

 purpose in hand it was a magnificent performance, even 

 though from a strictly sporting standpoint a critic may 

 exclaim, "C'est magnifique mats ce nest pas la guerre" 

 That, of course, is not, in this case, the point. Here 

 the essential was to secure a particular specimen. As 

 regards game, I have before expressed the view (and 

 stand to it solidly) that the repeating rifle is unfair and 

 should be barred in every hunting-field. 



