192 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
the head of them, and could not make up my mind 
which to fire at, as they were so intermixed. At 
length I saw a round shining dumpy short cow, 
apparently very fat, and was determined to have, 
her, and pushed Luister close alongside. She could 
not get into the herd, they were so wedged together. 
I fired from the saddle within two yards of her, giving 
Luister at the same time a chuck on the off rein, and 
a savage dig with the near persuader, to prevent his 
being run over by those behind. She kept on with 
the herd ; and I, not being able to load at the gallop, 
the bush being too thick, unpardonably lost sight of 
her. I heard Smouse and Wolf barking at one, and 
on galloping in the direction, saw they had succeeded 
in turning out an old cow, and were baiting her in 
good style. I galloped to their assistance, and after 
a short chase, getting close to her stern, jumped off 
just as she went into the bed of a dry river —the 
Sassy — and shot her dead right through the heart, 
and out just behind the shoulder on the other side, 
as she was ascending the opposite bank. On return¬ 
ing in the direction where I last heard the firing, 
I found Swartz and the Kaffirs exulting over a cow 
and young heifer, which they had murdered among 
them in about twelve shots, as all hands at the wagon 
had a round at them. I said I had lost a fine cow, 
which I was sure could not go far, and must go and 
look for her, and, singularly, I found her lying dead 
not 100 yards from the other two, shot right through 
the heart. We loaded up an immense quantity of 
