52 
ON SAFARI 
one ear was bitten through—the result, no doubt, of the 
fights that had gained him his numerous harem. Dead¬ 
weight, as he lay, estimated at near 500 lbs. 
While off-skinning proceeded I strolled to some low 
ridges beyond to survey the country. At first only 
zebras and ostriches were in sight; but presently the 
glasses rested on an animal that was quite new to me— 
a great dark-red hartebeest standing beneath a shady 
mimosa a mile away. He was a lone bull, bigger, redder 
and with finer horn than any of his kind hitherto seen. 
This was my first view of Bubalis jacksoni. Him we 
at once proceeded to stalk. 
Again the range was long—sighted for 300 yards; 
yet so severe was the hit that for a full half-hour we 
never doubted that this also was “ our meat.” Slowly 
he moved, with frequent halts, but on, on . . . into the 
low hills that closed the plain, taking ridge after ridge, 
apparently recovering strength as time went on. Then, 
on topping a crest, we “jumped” a second lone bull of 
the same species, and by a bit of superb field-craft gained 
an advantage that within twenty minutes proved fatal to 
the game. This hartebeest had dashed away, circling 
round the rim of a saucer-shaped depression. Elmi, 
inspired, plunged into this dip, directing our four “ boys ” 
to remain standing in full view on the ridge behind. 
Presently, as anticipated, our horned friend pulled up 
and stood fixedly regarding those four harmless Swahili, 
