376 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
spoor, which the Kaffirs followed in the most inde¬ 
fatigable manner; it led us in a regular circle. 
Though we maintained a dead silence, the elands 
must have got our wind, as we found from the spoor 
they were off at full speed. January then took up 
the spoor, holding on fast by the pommel with one 
hand, and kept it in the most marvellous manner at 
a canter, wherever the bush would admit of it, for 
three or four miles at least. I followed in his wake, 
Ferus (fearless), who is in excellent condition, pulling 
hard. I should have called a halt, but the spoor 
led homewards. January still kept on at a canter 
through the thick bush; at length, I got sight of 
three cows; the rest of the party had done their 
duty, it was now my turn: I contented myself by 
keeping them in sight till we got into a much more 
open part, when I let Ferns make play, and he 
went at a slashing pace over everything. The elands 
led me in among the Kaffir pit-fa]Is, and I steered 
my nag wherever the fence was thickest, as being 
safest, and he jumped like a stag, and in a very 
short brush singled out and ran right into the best 
cow, when I fired from the saddle. 
25 th .—I have got on very slowly since logging up 
last. There is no road; we have to cut our way 
through the bush, and we have had heavy sand-hills 
to contend with. We have had so far an abund¬ 
ance of water, but have come in a very unsatis¬ 
factory zigzag sort of manner. I went out to shoot 
a giraffe for food, with two Bushmen as guides, who 
