SECOND EXPEDITION TO EAST AFRICA 211 



actually on the water's edge, it appeared that the 

 buffalo had entered the water. We naturally- 

 supposed that the animal had crossed the river ; 

 and, as the depth of the water at this point was 

 uncertain, we were disposed to abandon the pur- 

 suit. The buffalo, as we correctly surmised from 

 the appearance of the blood, was wounded in the 

 stomach only, and it was impossible to say to 

 what distance he might have travelled. We had 

 been hunting, with an interval for breakfast, 

 since the early morning ; the sun was hot, and 

 our big rifles were heavy, and we sat down on 

 the sand, while the gun-bearers reconnoitred the 

 ground. I personally thought the hunt was over, 

 and so, I think, did Gimlette ; but presently a 

 tremendous fusillade commenced upon our left. 

 The buffalo had entered the river ; but, after a 

 bath, had returned to the left bank lower down, 

 and there the negroes found him standing in the 

 jungle. The number of rifles and cartridges they 

 had with them made them bold ; and hoping to 

 distinguish themselves, or thinking they would 

 have some fun on their own account, they opened 

 fire, Gimlette' s Swahili gun-bearer, who afterwards 

 paid the penalty of his rashness, firing the first 

 shot. The cartridges in the magazines of the two 

 •350 rifles, the two barrels of the '470, and the 

 Martini of the Askari were all discharged, and the 

 stern of the buffalo was well peppered ; but negroes 

 are not, as a rule, good shots, and they were firing 

 into forest, and there was not one well-placed 

 bullet. 



When the shooting commenced I thought at 

 first that the men had come across a crocodile. 



