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lland bullets in the shoulder of one of them。
The herd broke away to the right； sweeping past us at close range。 My bull ran thirty yards with them； then went down stone dead。 When we examined him we found the hole made by B。's Winchester bullet； so that quite unintentionally and by accident I had fired at the same beast。 This was lucky。 The trophy； by hunter's law； of course； belonged to B。
Therefore F。 and I alone followed on after the herd。 It was now coming on dusk。 Within a hundred yards we began to see scattered beasts。 The formation of the herd had broken。 Some had gone on in flight； while others in small scattered groups would stop to stare back； and would then move slowly on for a few paces before stopping again。 Among these I made out a bull facing us about a hundred and twenty…five yards away； and managed to stagger him； but could not bring him down。
Now occurred an incident which I should hesitate to relate were it not that both F。 and myself saw it。 We have since talked it over； compared our recollections； and found them to coincide in every particular。
As we moved cautiously in pursuit of the slowly retreating herd three cows broke back and came running down past us。 We ducked aside and hid； of course； but noticed that of the three two were very young； while one was so old that she had become fairly emaciated； a very unusual thing with buffaloes。 We then followed the herd for twenty minutes； or until twilight； when we turned back。 About halfway down the slope we again met the three cows； returning。 They passed us within twenty yards； but paid us no attention whatever。 The old cow was coming along very reluctantly； hanging back at every step； and every once in a while swinging her head viciously at one or the other of her two companions。 These escorted her on either side； and a little to the rear。 They were plainly urging her forward； and did not hesitate to dig her in the ribs with their horns whenever she turned especially obstinate。 In fact they acted exactly like a pair of cowboys HERDING a recalcitrant animal back to its band and I have no doubt at all that when they first by us the old lady was making a break for liberty in the wrong direction； AND THAT THE TWO YOUNGER COWS WERE TRYING TO ROUND HER BACK！ Whether they were her daughters or not is problematical； but it certainly seemed that they were taking care of her and trying to prevent her running back where it was dangerous to go。 I never heard of a similar case。 though Herbert Ward* mentions； without particulars that elephants AND BUFFALOES will assist each other WHEN WOUNDED。
*A Voice from the COngo。
After passing these we returned to where B。 and the men； who had now come up； had prepared the dead bull for transportation。 We started at once； travelling by the stars； shouting and singing to discourage the lions； but did not reach camp until well into the night。
XXV。 THE BUFFALO…continued
Some months later； and many hundreds of miles farther south； Billy and I found ourselves alone with twenty men； and two weeks to pass until C。…our companion at the time…should return from a long journey out with a wounded man。 By slow stages； and relaying back and forth； we landed in a valley so beautiful in every way that we resolved to stay as long as possible。 This could be but five days at most。 At the end of that time we must start for our prearranged rendezvous with C。
The valley was in the shape of an ellipse； the sides of which were formed by great clifflike mountains； and the other two by hills lower； but still of considerable boldness and size。 The longest radius was perhaps six or eight miles； and the shortest three or four。 At one end a canyon dropped away to a lower level； and at the other a pass in the hills gave over to the country of the Narassara River。 The name of the valley was Lengeetoto。
》From the great mountains flowed many brooks of clear sparkling water； that ran beneath the most beautiful of open jungles； to unite finally in one main stream that disappeared down the canyon。 Between these brooks were low broad rolling hills； sometimes grass covered； sometimes grown thinly with bushes。 Where they headed in the mountains； long stringers of forest trees ran up to blocklike groves； apparently pasted like wafers against the base of the cliffs； but in reality occupying spacious slopes below them。
We decided to camp at the foot of a long grass slant within a hundred yards of the trees along one of the small streams。 Before us we had the sweep of brown grass rising to a clear cut skyline； and all about us the distant great hills behind which the day dawned and fell。 One afternoon a herd of giraffes stood silhouetted on this skyline quite a half hour gazing curiously down on our camp。 Hartebeeste and zebra swarmed in the grassy openings； and impalla in the brush。 We saw sing…sing and steinbuck； and other animals； and heard lions nearly every night。 But principally we elected to stay because a herd of buffaloes ranged the foothills and dwelt in the groves of forest trees under the cliffs。 We wanted a buffalo； and as Lengeetoto is practically unknown to white men； we thought this a good chance to get one。 In that I reckoned without the fact that at certain seasons the Masai bring their cattle in； and at such times annoy the buffalo all they can。
We started out well enough。 I sent Memba Sasa with two men to locate the herd。 About three o'clock a messenger came to camp after me。 We plunged through our own jungle； crossed a low swell； traversed another jungle； and got in touch with the other two men。 They reported the buffalo had entered the thicket a few hundred yards below us。 Cautiously reconnoitering the ground it soon became evident that we would be forced more definitely to locate the herd。 To be sure； they had entered the stream jungle at a known point； but there could be no telling how far they might continue in the thicket； nor on what side of it they would emerge at sundown。 Therefore we commenced cautiously and slowly follow the trail。
The going was very thick； naturally； and we could not see very far ahead。 Our object was not now to try for a bull； but merely to find where the herd was feeding； in order that we might wait for it to come out。 However； we were brought to a stand； in the middle of a jungle of green leaves； by the cropping sound of a beast grazing just the other side of a bush。 We could not see it； and we stood stock still in the hope of escaping discovery ourselves。 But an instant later a sudden crash of wood told us we had been seen。 It was near work。 The gunbearers crouched close to me。 I held the heavy double gun ready。 If the beast had elected to charge I would have had less than ten yards within which to stop it。 Fortunately it did not do so。 But instantly the herd was afoot and off at full speed。 A locomotive amuck in a kindling pile could have made no more appalling a succession of rending crashes than did those heavy animals rushing here and there through the thick woody growth。 We could see nothing。 Twice the rush started in our direction； but stopped as suddenly as it had begun； to be succeeded by absolute stillness when everything； ourselves included； held its breath to listen。 Finally； the first panic over； the herd started definitely away downstream。 We ran as fast as we could out of the jungle to a commanding position on the hill。 Thence we could determine the course of the herd。 It continued on downstream as far as we could follow the sounds in the convolutions of the hills。 Realizing that it would improbably recover enough from its alarmed condition to resume its regular habits that day； we returned to camp。
Next morning Memba Sasa and I were afield before daylight。 We took no other men。 In hunting I am a strong disbeliever in the common habit of trailing along a small army。 It is simple enough； in case the kill is made； to send back for help。 No matter how skilful your men are at stalking； the chances of alarming the game are greatly increased by numbers； while the possibilities of misunderstanding the plan of campaign； and so getting into the wrong place at the wrong time； are infinite。 Alone； or with one gunbearer； a man can slip in and out a herd of formidable animals with the least chances of danger。 Merely going out after camp meat is of course a different matter。
We did not follow in the direction taken by the herd the night before； but struck off toward the opposite side of the valley。 For two hours we searched the wooded country at the base of the cliff mountains； working slowly around the circle； examining every inlet； ravine and gully。 Plenty of other sorts of game we saw； including elephant tracks not a half hour old； but no buffalo。 About eight o'clock； however； while looking through my glasses； I caught sight of some tiny chunky black dots crawling along below the mountains diagonally across the valley； and somewhat over three miles away。 We started in that direction as fast as we could walk。 At the end of an hour we surmounted the last swell； and stood at the edge of a steep drop。 Immediately below us flowed a good…sized stream through a high jungle over the tops of which we looked to a triangular gentle slope overgrown with scattered bushes and high grass。 Beyond