A Breath from the Veldt 217 



apart from the drawback of the thorns, the trees here stand so close together 

 that your horse, unless perfectly trained to the pressure of either hand or leg, 

 is apt to scrape you against them, or to fall into holes suddenly seen only by 

 the rider, A run of about half a mile, however, improved matters considerably, 

 for the wait-a-bits gave place to a great extent to roibosjes, and we made such 

 good time that the rolling black buffaloes began to show up now and again 

 between the stems of the trees, thus giving us fresh hope at every stride. 

 They seemed to be galloping slowly ahead of us, keeping (as they generally 

 do) close together, their heads well up and their tails constantly lashing against 

 their flanks. The trees had now thinned away a bit ; but what we gained 

 in this way we lost in another, for the ground suddenly changed its character, 

 showing only alternate stone flats and sandy ridges full of jackal burrows, till 

 (after about two miles of this furious scramble) a broad glade in the forest 

 enabled us to improve our pace, and presently we found ourselves within 

 100 yards of the herd. As we approached them I saw, to my joy, a great bull 

 rolling along on the left a little apart from, though fairly level with the others, 

 as though taking a line of his own. The troop, though apparently tired and 

 going slowly away, were making really good pace, and I was much astonished 

 at the agility they displayed on suddenly changing their minds as to which 

 side of some bushes they would go. They threw up their tails, lowered their 

 heads, and spun round on their toes in a second, showing that they were still 

 full of running. A forced rush in within fifty yards brought us up to shooting 

 distance, and the old man and I jumped off and came into action. I was a bit 

 hot and excited after the long run, and my two shots unfortunately failed, 

 passing just over my beast's back, whilst a shot by Oom Roelef undoubtedly 

 hit a cow. On again we went and continued the hunt for another mile or so, 

 when, after narrowly escaping a spill from a bough striking me in the chest, 

 we found some more good ground. And now, though our horses were 

 somewhat blown, I determined to get closer up, for if you jump off at fifty 

 yards' distance, by the time your rifle is fired the beast is a good loo yards 

 away, and perhaps in an unfavourable position. Van Staden was confining his 

 attention to the cows on his right, while the big bull that I was pressing 

 lumbered along quietly to the left. At last I got within about thirty yards of 

 him, and jumping off, let him have it in his stern — unfortunately the only part 

 presented to me. He immediately sprang round, ran a short distance and then 

 stopped, when I at once gave him two more. Van Staden adding another from 

 the right. Seeing that he was done for, and that the herd turned off towards 



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