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SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
beasts drinking singly; when, just as these 
two were emerging from the reeds on the oppo- 
site banks of the river, we heard the sharp crack 
of a rifle, then a pause, and then a second shot. 
In an instant the whole herd took the alarm, 
and were in the bush, whilst the air resounded 
with the crashing and breaking branches, as 
they forced their huge horns, heads, and car- 
cases through it, into its densest glades. 
After an anxious hour of suspense, our com- 
panion joined us, and we were informed, that 
he had succeeded in reaching a hanging ledge 
of rock, covered with bush, overlooking the 
path by which the herd were advancing through 
the valley. He had hardly espied the first of 
them, when the bull seemed to smell him, and 
giving the alarm, started off at a rapid pace, in 
a sidelong direction. Observing this, he mea- 
sured his distance to another point in their new 
course, where he saw they must appear, and 
taking a steady aim, waited the result ; when, 
at length, they did emerge, singling out one 
large cow, he lodged the contents of both bar- 
rels of his rifle behind her shoulder. He then 
proceeded by the "blood spoor" (that is, the 
drops of blood, which fell from her wounds,) to 
trace her to her lair, and, after a few moments, 
he came upon her, lying wounded in the bush, 
and having satisfied himself that she was se- 
