162 HOW TO COCK A GUN. 



tyro in bush-shooting. We will suppose that our advance 

 has been conducted without a cracking or crushing of 

 leaves or sticks, and we come to a branch which has been 

 broken by elephants, and lies across the path. Here we 

 have a very tough customer. If the branch is too low to 

 creep under, we must move cautiously over it, stepping 

 carefully between the small branches, and keeping our 

 balance steadily on each leg in succession the slightest 

 blunder here would be serious. Another branch merely 

 bent across the path, and a few feet from the ground, is 

 slowly raised with one hand, while you pass under it ; the 

 next man behind receives it, passes, and, if the last of the 

 party, allows it to regain its original position. As this 

 latter proceeding cannot be done without a slight rustling 

 of leaves, it is better to stand for two or three minutes 

 to allow any suspicion that may have been raised to be 

 forgotten by the animals near. We now take a peep 

 round, and get a better view by stooping low down, the 

 underwood and branches not being so thickly leaved 

 close to the ground. Ah ! something moved in that deep 

 shadow ; now for the KamVs eyes ; a signal with the 

 finger, and Inyovu is on his knees, head low, and looking 

 at the suspicious object, which is about fifty yards distant, 

 partly hidden by the intervening stumps, and indistinct in 

 the gloom of the bush. Inyovu, more by the movement 

 of his lips and the expression of his countenance than by 

 words, indicates it as imponze (buck). The gun, which for 

 bush-work I always loaded with ball, as more rapid in its 

 killing powers, is now brought to full cock, but not simply 

 in the usual manner, for the click would be instantly 



