106 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



The buffalo did not seem startled by the :3ogs, but 

 walked slowly over the rooky ridge. ' I was following 

 briskly after him, when I observed his comrade lying 

 right in our path ; we squatted instantly, but he got 

 our wind and was off. I followed, and got a shot across 

 the ravine, wounding him behind the shoulder. When 

 the dogs came up I tried to put them on this spoor, but 

 they dashed up the ravine and started three other,buf- 

 faloes, which they failed in bringing to bay, nor did J 

 again see the dogs till I had been two hours in camp. 

 I nearly killed myself by running after them, for I was 

 on foot, the ground being too bad for the horse,s. 



Ontgaching the steeds I rode hard for camp, as the 

 day was far spent. Passing the mouth of another bold 

 ravine, we crossed very well-beaten paths, which led me 

 to suspect that this ravine also contained a fountaiti. 

 We had ridden about half way to camp when a fine old 

 bull eland came charging up to leeward, having got our 

 wind. I sprang from the back of Mazeppa, and gave 

 him both barrels as he passed me. We then gave him 

 chase through very thick cover, and after a sharp burst 

 of about a mile I shot him from the saddle : he carried 

 a very fine head, and was, notwithstanding' the late- 

 ness of the season, in very good condition. 



On the 23d, in the forenoon, I rode to explore the 

 suspected ravine of the day before, and, having crossed 

 the mountain chain, came upon the fresh spoor of a 

 very large troop of cow elephants leading toward the 

 spot. I at once determined to follow it, and dispatched 

 the Bushman to camp for the dogs and Kleinboy's gun, 

 &c. I rode slowly ahead on the spoor, imagining the 

 elephants at a great distance, when, on gaining a ridge, 

 I came full upon the troop, drawn up within twenty- 

 five yards of me. There were perhaps from twenty. 



