130 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
with his tail towards me. I endeavoured to direct 
his attention to me in various ways. I was within 
fifteen yards, and had been for many minutes, and 
could have picked my place to fire twenty times, but, 
after the last discomfiture, I thought I would make 
dead sure, when, without a.warning of any kind, he 
suddenly made right off, and I had only a stern shot 
left me, which is of no manner of use. I had lost my 
way entirely, and did not get back till three hours 
after dark, guided by the shouts of the Kaffirs. 
The bagging of large shy game on foot is a com¬ 
plete science, and requires no small skill. You 
must take your bearings, study the wind to a point, 
and, if seen by the animals, go in an exactly oppo¬ 
site direction, marking well the place, and gradually 
work round, never stopping to look dead at them, 
unless well concealed. It is impossible to use too 
much caution. I have heard an old hunter say, that 
if he got one good chance in a day, he was per¬ 
fectly satisfied. The first dawn of day is the best 
time to commence, and a good telescope an immense 
assistance. 
The crocodiles are the greatest drawback to this 
country. I got to a lovely hole in the St. Luey, 
wearied and hot, and a plunge would have been 
worth any money, but the spoor of a large croco¬ 
dile which had just gone in warned me, and I 
was forced to content myself with a shallow place, 
where the stream ran strong, and where I was safe 
from them. 
