ON THE STONY ATHI 
231 
sufficient for this. The position, it must be remembered, 
is one that will cut off the animals as they approach the 
water; yet it must not be so near as to disturb other 
animals that may already be drinking there—say from 
400 to 800 yards. The configuration of the land— 
drooping in successive steps towards the lower levels— 
may assist in acquiring the desired position ; otherwise 
much crawling may be necessary. 
“ Once having attained this position, no cover is 
needed, though should there be any, so much the better. 
The essential now is to remain rigidly motionless. The 
least movement, especially when the game is yet distant, 
is instantly fatal—the kongoni spots it. The nearer he 
comes the safer you are, since he is then looking over 
you. Once when the pilot approached so directly that 
he almost looked like treading on us, my hunter in his 
excitement pinched me so severely that I was obliged 
to kick him. In doing so, I not only moved, but made 
a slight noise; yet the kongoni noticed nothing, and a 
moment later I killed the wildebeest at the muzzle of 
the rifle. 
“ Another incident illustrates the comparative 
blindness of the hartebeests in the pride of piloting their 
shaggy friends. This time we had reached a position 
beyond which we dare not advance, the ground in front 
being burnt and absolutely bare. But we were near 
enough—too near, as the sequel showed—to their final 
line of approach. As the game comes in, the hunter 
must of course concentrate all his attention on the rifle 
and its aim, since no subsequent movement is possible. 
At that precise period, say 200 yards away, the pilot 
was at least fifty yards ahead of his charge. With eyes 
glued to the telescope-sight, I was of course unable any 
longer to follow their relative movements. Presently the 
hartebeest appeared on the object-glass ; but scarce had 
he passed by than the black muzzle of the wildebeest 
came into the picture, not one yard behind ! This so 
disconcerted me that already the psychological moment 
for pulling trigger had gone, the bullet struck too far 
