Page 117 - Adventures in Africa

of fear. W e at the moment had abundance of meat

in the camp, or some of them would have fallen
victims to our fire-arms.
The next day, seeing a herd of zebras in the dis­

tance, taking my rifle, I started off, hoping to shoot
one of them. A s the wind was from them to me, and
as there were some low bushes, I expected to get up

to them within gun-shot, before they perceived me.
I was not disappointed; and, firing, I wounded one
of them severely in the leg. The rest of the herd

took to flight, but the wounded animal went off to­
wards our camp, from which several of our men

issued to attack it,
I was walking along leisurely when, hearing the
sound of feet in the direction from which 1 had come,

I turned round and saw a solitary buffalo galloping
towards me. The nearest place of safety was a tree,
but it was upwards of a hundred yards off, I had, of

course, reloaded, and now got my rifle ready, hoping
to hit the brute in the forehead. Just then the
thought occurred to me, u What would be my fate

should my gun miss fire The buffalo came on at a
tremendous speed, but fortunately a small bush in its

way made it swerve slightly and expose its shoulder.
Now was the moment for action, and as I heard the
bullet strike the animal I fell flat on my face. The

buffalo bounded on over my body, apparently not
perceiving me* I lay perfectly still. It had got to a
considerable distance, when it was met by the men

who had come out to kill the zebra, and was quickly
shot down.

Toko shook his head when he saw me, exclaiming