and gazed stedfastly in our direction, forming a
superb tableau; their beautiful mottled skins glancing
like the summer coat of a thorough-bred horse,
the orange-coloured statues standing out in high
relief from a back-ground of dark-green mimosas. .
“ This beautiful picture soon changed; I knew that
my chance of a close shot was hopeless, as they
would presently make a rush, and be off; thus I
determined to get the first start. I had previously
studied the ground, and I concluded that they
would push forward at right angles with my position,
as they had thus ascended the hill, and that,
on reaching the higher ground, they would turn to
the right, in order to reach an immense tract of
high grass, as level as a billiard-table, from which
no danger could approach them unobserved.
“ I accordingly with a gentle movement of my hand
directed my people to follow me, and I made a
sudden rush forward at full speed. Off went the
herd; shambling along at a tremendous pace,
whisking their long tails above their hind-quarters.,
and taking exactly the direction I had anticipated,
they offered me a shoulder shot at a little within
two hundred yards’ distance. Unfortunately, I fell
into a deep hole concealed by the high grass, and
by the time that I resumed the hunt they had
increased their distance, but I observed the leader
turned sharp to the right, through some low mimosa
bush, to make direct for the open table-land. I
made a short .cut obliquely at my best speed, and
only halted when I saw that I should lose ground
by altering my position. Stopping short, I was
exactly opposite the herd as they filed by me at
right angles in full speed, within about one hundred
and eighty yards. I had my old Ceylon No. 10
double rifle, and I took a steady shot at a large
dark-coloured bull: the satisfactory sound of the
ball upon his hide was followed almost immediately
by his blundering forward for about twenty yards,
and falling heavily in the low bush. I heard the
crack of the ball of my left-hand barrel upon
another fine beast, but no effects followed. Bacheet
quickly gave me the single 2-ounce Manton rifle,
and I singled out a fine dark-coloured bull, who
fell on his knees to the shot, but recovering, hobbled
off disabled, apart from the herd, with a foreleg
broken just below the shoulder. Reloading
immediately, I ran up to the spot, where I found
my first giraffe lying dead, with the ball clean
through both shoulders; the second was standing
about one hundred paces distant; upon my approach
he attempted to move, but immediately fell, and
was despatched by my eager Arabs. I followed
the herd for about a mile to no purpose, through
deep clammy ground and high grass, and I returned
to our game.
“ These were my first giraffes, and I admired them
as they lay before me with a hunter’s pride and
satisfaction, but mingled with a feeling of pity for
such beautiful and utterly helpless, creatures. The