96 
RHINO AND GIRAFFES [ch. iv 
The giraffe was going straight away and it was a long 
shot, at four or five hundred yards; but by good luck 
the bullet broke its back and down it came. The others 
were now getting over the crest of the hill, but the big 
one was evidently sick, and we called and beckoned to 
the two saises to hurry up with the horses. The 
moment they arrived we jumped on, and Captain Slatter 
cantered up a neighbouring hill so as to mark the 
direction in which the giraffes went if I lost sight of 
them. Meanwhile I rode full speed after the giant 
quarry. I was on the tranquil sorrel, the horse I much 
preferred in riding down game of any kind, because he 
had a fair turn of speed, and yet was good about letting 
me get on and off. As soon as I reached the hill-crest 
I saw the giraffes ahead of me, not as far off as I had 
feared, and I raced toward them without regard to 
rotten ground and wart-hog holes. The wounded one 
lagged behind, but when I got near he put on a spurt, 
and as I thought I was close enough I leaped off, throw¬ 
ing the reins over the sorrels head, and opened fire. 
Down went the big bull, and I thought my task was 
done. But as I went back to mount the sorrel he 
struggled to his feet again and disappeared after his 
companion among the trees, which were thicker here, as 
we had reached the bottom of the valley. So I tore 
after him again, and in a minute came to a dry water¬ 
course. Scrambling into and out of this, I saw the 
giraffes ahead of me just beginning the ascent of the 
opposite slope ; and touching the horse with the spur, I 
flew after the wounded bull. This time I made up my 
mind I would get up close enough; but Tranquillity 
did not quite like the look of the thing ahead of him. 
He did not refuse to come up to the giraffe, but he 
evidently felt that, with such an object close by and 
