266 



GIRAFFE HUNTING. 



that surrounded him was sweet, young, and abundant, 

 so he was resolved to obtain a stomach full of it, 

 which resolution he was assiduously putting into 

 practice. When the old beast became aware that I 

 was near him, he simply raised his head, gave me a 

 knowing look out of his one eye, and recommenced 

 to feed in the most unconcerned manner, the desertion 

 of his master being apparently a matter of not the 

 slightest importance. Rogue as he was, he knew 

 better than to give me any trouble to capture him, so 

 amicably we pursued our way towards where the 

 firing was still taking place. 



I was not long in finding my henchman, but oh ! 

 v;hat a ** gruesome sight " presented itself before me. 

 The poor old bull giraffe was struggling on the 

 ground, making the most determined efforts to rise, 

 but numerous wounds and loss of blood prevented it 

 carrying out its purpose The brave old beast bore 

 its torturing pains gallantiy, for not a murmur escaped 

 its lips. I thought that I could distinguish in its 

 large soft eye a look that appealed for compassion 

 and sympathy, but such was in vain, for William, I 

 have my doubts, never knew what such feelings were, 

 and if he did, they were certainly not going to be 

 exercised by him towards one of the brute creation. 

 I declare I saw tears, oi something that exactly 

 resembled them, coming from the stricken beast's 

 eyes. Such an exhibition I could stand no longer, so 

 I sprang off my horse's back, and, almost within 

 striking distance finished the tragedy by firing a 

 bullet through the unfortunate animal's head. This 

 step, meriting approval as it did, very nearly cost me 

 my life, for my servant, with the usual carelessness 

 characteristic of his race, shot at the same moment, 

 and the bullet passed within an inch or two of my 

 head. Black fellows are the most reckless, careless, 

 thoughtless beings in existence when handling fire- 

 arms. In a Kaffir war I have always believed that. 



