XV 
RETURN TO LAKE RUDOLPH 
361 
even as we looked, they moved on again. Going along parallel 
with the valley, we by and by caught sight of them again, 
from one of the little knolls which commanded a view, standing 
once more in a similar position under another suaki tree. They 
had chosen the centre of a particularly thick part of the scrub, 
with tall, close-growing, leafy bushes all around. It was not 
far from open ground on the farther side, but I could see 
from my point of vantage that it would not be possible to get 
a shot without crawling close up. Compared with cover I 
used formerly to thread unhesitatingly, this was not bad, the 
bushes composing it not being of a thorny nature. But now 
“ my hearts were two ”—as the Zulus would say. One raised 
objections ; but the other—animated by the eager spirit of the 
hunter, still strong within me—would not let me off. I 
finally went through to the other side of the valley, farther 
back, and entered the bush again opposite the place I had 
marked. 
On getting near, my old form reasserted itself, and my 
interest became keenly concentrated on the exciting pursuit. 
The bush inside was not so bad as it had appeared from 
without. My luck still held. I caught sight of the bull 
through openings in the scrub ; but from the first spot whence 
I tried to get a shot I could not obtain a clear enough view 
to satisfy me. I was determined not to fire any flurried, 
uncertain, or bungling shots to-day, so crept nearer till I could 
get an unimpeded view of the big brute’s left shoulder, into 
the middle of which I sent, at close quarters, one of my tiny, 
slate-pencil bullets. I got in a second from behind as he 
turned, and in a few seconds we heard him fall with a crash. 
Going cautiously forward I made out the side of his great belly 
sticking up as he lay. He got up again though, and after 
falling a second time was on his legs once more ; so, though I 
knew it was only the smallness of the bullet that made him— 
such a huge beast—so long in dying, I thought it kinder to 
hasten his end. 
