A HUNTER'S CAMP-FIRES 



of the trees ahead, but cunningly secreted themselves on our 

 approach. 



Following the banks of the stream for two hours, and realiz- 

 ing that the morning w^as already too far advanced to find 

 large game in the vicinity of w^ater, I started across a wide, 

 burnt plain to where a thin green line in the distance marked 

 the commencement of the acacia forest. When within about 

 four hundred yards of the first trees we sat down to rest in the 

 scanty shade of a few desolate bushes. From this spot, while 

 examining the country ahead with the field-glasses, I was 

 surprised and delighted to discern a solitary old bull giraffe 

 leisurely stalking among the trees at the edge of the growth. 

 First cautioning the blacks, I waited until the animal had fed 

 out of sight among the acacias. Then, instructing my men to 

 follow me carefully at a considerable distance, and armed with 

 my double-barrelled .450 Cordite, I commenced a very uncom- 

 fortable but interesting hour's stalk. 



The giraffe was feeding away from me rather rapidly, and 

 in spite of the iriimense size and vivid coloring of the animal, 

 so well did it harmonize with its surroundings that it was with 

 great difficulty I was able to keep it in sight. The cover was 

 scanty and the wind variable, which prevented me from follow- 

 ing closely. The heat of the sun had become almost unbear- 

 able, nor did the plentiful carpeting of durable acacia thorns, 

 abetted by a short, trailing growth of tenacious thorny creepers, 

 add to the doubtful pleasure of crawling along the baked 

 ground. At one time a solitary female oryx joined the giraffe, 

 and was within forty yards of me for quite a while, but I man- 

 aged to frighten it off without alarming the larger game. 



Eventually I found myself crouching behind a small, bushy 

 tree, with the heavy rifle resting in one of its forks, and the 

 unconscious giraffe only about one hundred and fifty yards 

 away, its head buried in the top of a fair-sized tree on which it 

 was feeding. At the report of the first barrel it made several 



116 



