XV RETURN TO LAKE RUDOLPH 361 



even as we looked, they moved on again. Going along parallel 

 with the valley, we by and by caught sight of them again, 

 from one of the little knolls which commanded a view, standing 

 once more in a similar position under another suaki tree. They 

 had chosen the centre of a particularly thick part of the scrub, 

 with tall, close-growing, leafy bushes all around. It was not 

 far from open ground on the farther side, but I could see 

 from my point of vantage that it would not be possible to get 

 a shot without crawling close up. Compared with cover I 

 used formerly to thread unhesitatingly, this was not bad, the 

 bushes composing it not being of a thorny nature. But now 

 " my hearts were two " — as the Zulus would say. One raised 

 objections ; but the other — animated by the eager spirit of the 

 hunter, still strong within me — would not let me off. I 

 finally went through to the other side of the valley, farther 

 back, and entered the bush again opposite the place I had 

 marked. 



On getting near, my old form reasserted itself, and my 

 interest became keenly concentrated on the exciting pursuit. 

 The bush inside was not so bad as it had appeared from 

 without. My luck still held. I caught sight of the bull 

 through openings in the scrub ; but from the first spot whence 

 I tried to get a shot I could not obtain a clear enough view 

 to satisfy me. I was determined not to fire any flurried, 

 uncertain, or bungling shots to-day, so crept nearer till I could 

 get an unimpeded view of the big brute's left shoulder, into 

 the middle of which I sent, at close quarters, one of my tiny, 

 slate-pencil bullets. I got in a second from behind as he 

 turned, and in a few seconds we heard him fall with a crash. 

 Going cautiously forward I made out the side of his great belly 

 sticking up as he lay. He got up again though, and after 

 falling a second time was on his legs once more ; so, though I 

 knew it was only the smallness of the bullet that made him — 

 such a huge beast — so long in dying, I thought it kinder to 

 hasten his end. 



