A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



men despatched several every day. Although we saw 

 numerous roan, tora, waterbuck, bushbuck, and oribi, it 

 was not till the third day that we found some buffalo 

 tracks, which we followed 

 for four hours. At last 1 

 caught sight of the herd 

 lying right out in the 

 open, and, crawling up 

 behind a bamboo clump, 

 I counted a bull, two cows, 

 and a two-year-old. Soon 

 the animals got up and 

 moved across our front, 

 a cow as usual taking the 

 lead. Fearing that she 

 would discover us, I had 

 to fire at the bull, who 

 was partly hidden in a 

 little dip of the ground, 

 and, of course, missed 

 clean ! In a moment the 

 ht rd were out of sight 

 and, by the time I had 

 sprung to my feet, had 

 gained the shelter of an- 

 other bamboo thicket. Any one who has worked 

 for weeks for one special kind of big game, and 

 has at last had a fair chance, and missed it, can 

 appreciate my feelings and language at the moment. 

 I think I can recall five such occasions within a 

 period of ten years, each of which will live in my 



The Wise Virgins. 



