Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-17


TALL making 1t necessary for us to lift them to their
feet again. 1t was not until night that we reached
higher ground, and were able to walk with freedom.
| had noticed many tracks of buck and ZEBRA indi-
eating that we were in region of big game and
decided to go ahead to get some fresh meat. 1t
arranged that the camping place should be
three or four miles farther along, where l would
Join the party.
had not gone more than mile when koodoo
the biggest and handsomest species of buck in South
Africa, suddenly doomed up in the bush in front of
me. For few seconds paused to gaze admiringy
at this creature, whose widespreading antlers and
massive head and neck made him one of the most
stately animals had ever seen. He was returning
my stare, with establishment and curiosity depicted
in his big eyes, when raised my rifle and shot him
through the shoulders. The bullet did not bring
him down. Throwing his head high in the air and
emitting peculiar blowing sound, he galloped off,
and, the bush being rather more open than usual,
followed as fast possible, in the hope that he
would fa or stop within range.
For about two miles l pursued him before his
disappearance little ridge made feel that
without the fresh meat that the boys were antic-
ipating, wandered on, till a steenbok jumped up
a, few rods ahead and went scampering away.
This time my bullet struck vital spot The small
red creature did not weigh more than twenty-five
pounds; so, after tying its fore and hind legs
together, l swung it over my shoulders and
started back for the trail. l had walked only
a short distance before the realization came
upon that was lost. 80
l fired two shots. our agreed signal in
of need, and waited breath1essy for
the answering report; but none came. Around
me- reaching for great distances on every side.
l well knew. the bush, in which l might
wander for weeks months without meeting
human being unless l took the right direction.
l suddenly remembered that 1 had only one
cartridge left, and there came to quick
vision of slow death by starvation or a QUICK
in the jaws of one of the lions or leopards or
hyenas that infested this region.
plunged on and on. Through the openings in
the bush could see that the stars shining but
Under the low branches it had grown very dark I
knew not what proving creature of the night might
be stalking me, and my heart chilled by the
fear that might be getting farther and farther away
from the camp. The dead silence of the wilderness
too, suggested lurking beasts and mysterious perils
Suddenly this silence broken by long wall like
the scream of agony of woman in extreme distress
l knew, of course, that it woman, but a
hyena. Still carrying the buck, which had brought
too far to give up easily, and holding my rifle in
frightened fingers, 1 quickened my pace and came
in little while, to the bank of small stream.
A Hyena At Bay
T HAD no desire to camp here feeling that it was
probably drinking place for wild beasts, but was
standing near it, celebrating the folly of going
farther in the night, when deep grow1 rose Just
and put my rifle in readiness to fire. 1t was SO dark
that all l could of this animal was its eyes,
For fully two minutes stood facing each other
l recalling with painful vividness the fact that 1
growing knew that it not lion nor
leopard, but that was confronting hyena. Slowly
it began to move to side. You may be sure
that my rifle followed it. All of sudden it gave
spring to get around behind me again, but sprang
too, and still had the beast at bay. Its eyes
glowed in the darkness. Not daring to fire my last
cartridge for fear it would not kill but would only
infuriate the hyena, stood motionless, expecting
every instant the leap to the attack. But instead
of advancing the beast began to back, and then
turned and slowly walked away.
Not until the sound of its growing had grown
faint in the bush did dare again to pick up the
huc | wa no undecided a. RI Uhe I