344 
BENIGHTED. 
[chap. VIII. 
was now on every side, as I pressed the great bull 
before me. Oh for an open plain ! I was helpless to 
attack, and it required the greatest attention to keep 
up the pace through the thick mimosas without dashing 
against their stems and branches. The jungle became 
thicker, and although I was in the middle of the herd 
and within ten yards of several giraffes, I could do 
nothing. A mass of thick and tangled thorns now re¬ 
ceived them, and closed over the hardly contested race 
—I was beaten. 
Never mind, it was a good hunt—first-rate—but 
where was my camp ? It was nearly dark, and I could 
just distinguish the pass in the distance, by which we 
had descended the mountain; thus I knew the direction, 
but I had ridden about three miles, and it would be 
dark before I could return. However, I followed the 
heel tracks of the herd of giraffes. Hicham was no¬ 
where. Although I had lost the race, and was dis¬ 
appointed, I now consoled myself that it was all for the 
best; had I killed a giraffe at that hour and distance 
from camp, what good would it have been ? I was 
quite alone, thus who could have found it during 
the night ? and before morning it would have been 
devoured by lions and hyenas;—inoffensive and 
beautiful creatures, what a sin it appeared to destroy 
them uselessly! With these consoling and practical 
