THE HEROES OF THE NIGHT. 



361 



buck sprang into full view at the point and 

 started in the direction of the stream. 



My first shot did not stop him, but the 

 second brought him down and he turned a 

 complete somersault in falling. On exam- 

 ining him I found that all 3 shots had taken 

 effect. The first one had struck too far back 

 of the heart to do much damage, the second 

 made a slight flesh wound on the flank, and 

 the last had hit the heart. 



I was curious to know how it was that 

 he had appeared just as I got up, and I 

 went back to see where he had been. From 

 the appearance of the ground behind some 

 bushes at the point, I judged that the old 

 fellow must have been standing there a 

 while, trying to make out what I was, for 

 the place where I sat was in plain view 

 from behind the bushes, but I could not 

 see him from where T had been. 



I never saw the does again and suppose 

 they entered the jungle when they heard 

 the rifle. 



I had a job on hand for which I had no 

 particular liking, as it was no small task to 

 carry a water buck's and a reed buck's head 

 besides a heavy rifle. I could have left the 

 heads, but the hyenas had spoiled 2 for me 

 shortly before and the risk was too great, 

 so I cut off the head and taking it on my 

 shoulder started on a 3 mile tramp back to 

 where the porters had been told to wait. Af- 

 ter going about a mile I felt that a change of 

 jobs would suit me, for those heads were 



TWO GOOD SPECIMENS. 



growing at an alarming rate ; but thanks 

 to Monga I was not doomed to carry them 

 long. That good fellow had not stopped 

 where he was told but came looking for me 

 after hearing the first shot and discovered 

 me about the time I was ready to throw 

 heads and everything else down. 



After he came to help me there was no 

 trouble in getting to camp, which we 

 reached about 2 p. m. 



That evening when the porters who had 

 been sent out after the meat had returned 

 I gave them the entire carcass and told 

 them to celebrate the white man's holiday. 



They certainly did it right, and there was 

 not enough of the meat left the next morn- 

 ing to make shadow soup. 



THE HEROES OF THE NIGHT. 



A. M. EOWMAN. 



We've heard of those who saved the day, 

 When the battle was at its height ; 



And I will do my best to tell 



Of those who have saved the night. 



A party of us went out one fall 

 To camp in the woods, and shoot 



An honest sportsman's share of game, 

 And have some fun to boot. 



It really was remarkable 



How quick those hunters woke ; 

 They all sat up like prairie dogs, 



And then the captain spoke. 



He loudly called for volunteers,' 

 Though not a move made he; 



Then came excuses plentiful, 

 As herrings in the sea. 



And all was peace and goodlv cheer 

 While the first week passed away; 



Then came a storm and swept the woods, 

 And almost made us pray. 



'Twas in the middle of the night ; 



The wild wind howled and roared; 

 The lurid lightning split the sky, 



And the rain in torrents poured. 



But still they slept, those sportsmen true, 

 Though danger hovered round, 



Till someone yelled, "The tent is loose; 

 'Twill soon be on the ground !" 



This one had washed the dishes last ; 



That one had cut the wood ; 

 One sleepy chap had cleaned the guns, 



And one had cooked the food. 



But soon Jess, Sam, and valiant Bill 

 Put on their clothes, and went 



Out in the wind and pelting rain, 

 And fixed the pesky tent. 



Hurrah for Bill ! hurrah for Sam ! 



Hurrah for Jess, all right ! 

 They braved the tempest's sullen roar, 



And saved the tent that night. 



