23a 



GIRAFFE HUNTING, 



COW with a calf at her heels. The youngster kept 

 its place so close to the parent's hindquarters that 

 it looked wonderfully strange how it could select a 

 footing for each stride, this difficulty was further 

 increased by the dam's heavy tasselled tail switch- 

 ing around, with almost the velocity of ^he fly-wheel 

 of a steam engine. An observer wo«id also have 

 thought it impossible that the little one could avoid 

 having its eyes knocked out, for this tuft is com- 

 posed of hair as long as salmon gut, and five or six 

 times its thickness ; but no such mishap took place, 

 or possibly ever does, and the calf unflinchingly and 

 perseveringly held its place. I had just resolved 

 to push up alongside the nigh flank of the old one, 

 and give her a bullet at short range, when the breath- 

 ing of my horse told me very distinctly that his 

 course was about run ; nor was it a wonder, con- 

 sidering that my nag had carried me — fourteen 

 stone good, including saddle — at his best pace nearly 

 a mile and a half over anything but smooth 

 galloping. Gently I felt my mount's flanks with 

 my spurs, but there was no response made to im- 

 prove my position. So, as the game indicated no 

 sign of fatigue, I determined to sacrifice the young- 

 ster, and, taking a steadying pull of the reins with 

 my left hand, with my right I nearly shoved the 

 barrels of my rifle into its ribs, and pulled the 

 trigger. In a moment there ensued to the unfortu- 

 nate a shambling of legs, a lurch forward, followed 

 by an almost immediate downfall. This was so 

 unexpectedly sudden, that my blown horse only 

 saved himself from a fall over the prostrate 

 body by a tremendous exertion. Not so fortu- 

 nate was rny driver on the one-eyed nag, and 

 the parti:tlly tightened girths to his saddle, for 

 the first went spreadeagle fashion into space, 

 while his quadruped took some minutes to consider 

 whether remaining prostrate on the ground or 



