54 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
in my favour, and, after some hard work, I came 
within about 600 yards of them. They were very 
wild and shy, having been much shot at lately, and 
they had taken alarm at three Kaffirs who came 
along the road, and they were taking themselves off 
rapidly. 
Crafty dashed into the herd and brought out a 
cow straight across a heavy bog. I was luckily on 
the right side, so I galloped off as fast as I could, 
and, after a long burst, got within fifty yards of her. 
Kow or never, thought I, as she went like the wind. 
I jumped off, fired and missed her. Away she went 
at a swinging trot. I looked at my pony: he was 
ready for another burst, and I took up the spoor of 
the rest of the troop. I soon came upon them cross¬ 
ing a bog, and making in my direction. I managed 
to get Billy over the bog with great difficulty, gave 
him a minute to recover his wind, mounted, and, as 
I had saved half a mile, I was on the middle of 
the troop instantly. I shortly drove the old bull 
from the troop, and made play. In consequence of the 
heavy state of the ground and the distance I had 
come, Billy was labouring hard under me, and, I 
fancied, rather losing ground. I thought exhausted 
nature could hold out no longer, so I pulled up within 
fifty yards of my bull, but I was so shaken that I 
again missed. Before I had reloaded, however, 
Billy had recovered himself, and fretted so much to 
be off that I had difficulty in ramming my bullet 
home ; and he was again galloping at a break-neck 
