ON SAFARI; RHINOS AND GIRAFFES 
73 
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, throwing the reins over the sorrel’s 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 companions 
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 watercourse. 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 we 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 
The old bull giraffe and Heller’s Wkamba skinners 
From a photograph by Edmund Heller 
