THE WATER-BUCK 125 



ing it a little way from the water, whereupon 

 Lenyo and his companions dashed to the spot and, 

 knowing full well the crocodile would never let 

 go, promptly speared both the reptile and his 

 prisoner. 



As a rule they are inoffensive creatures. It is 

 said that the bulls fight a good deal among them- 

 selves ; but then, at the mating season, so do the 

 males of practically aU other animals. I have 

 only once seen a water-buck show the smallest 

 sign of aggressiveness, and that was a very fine 

 bull which I had woimded severely on the banks 

 of the Mungari River in East Luabo. Following 

 upon his blood spoor through high stipa grass, I 

 came suddenly upon him at a distance of about 

 10 yards. He had turned and was facing me, 

 and, to my intense surprise, he advanced towards 

 me, nodding his head violently and breathing 

 heavily — I cannot quite call it snorting — ^tlirough 

 his nostrils. Poor old feUow ! his race was almost 

 run, or he would no doubt have been more active. 

 As it was, Lengo dashed forward and hit him 

 heavily over the head with a stout piece of 

 timber he was carrying in for firewood. The 

 bull feU, so near was he to succumbing, and 

 was quickly dispatched. I have often thought 

 that had he been a little less preoccupied by 

 his woimds he might have proved quite trouble- 

 some. 



They pay a heavy toll, not only to the hunting 

 native — paid or unpaid — ^but also to the lion, as I 

 have shown, to the crocodile, and without question 

 to hyenas, leopards, and hunting dogs. On one 



