Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-08-06
MAIWA'S REVENGE
ALLAN 0UATERMAINS GREATEST ADVENTURE.
Bv H. RIDER HAGGARD.
1HET
Author of "She," king Solomon's Mines" Etc.

buffalo which had passed up at dawn
from their feeding ground in the
mashes to spend the day in the cool
air of the uplands.
This trail followed boldly, for such
wind as there was blew straight down
the mountain side-that Is, from the d.
rection In which the buffalo had gone
to me.
About mile farther on the forest
began to get dense, and the nature OF
the trail showed me that l must be
close to my game.
Another two hundred yards, and the
bush was so thick that had it not been
for the trail we could scarcely have
got through it.
AS it was, Gobo. who carried my
eight-bore rifle (for I had the $40 ex-
press in my hand), and the other two
men whom I had taken with me-
showed the very strongest dislike to
going any farther, pointing out that
there was mo room to run away"
I told them that they need not come
unless they liked, but that was GER
tainly going on. and then, growing
ashamed, they came.
Another fifty yards. and the trail
opened into little glade.
knelt down and peeped and neered,
but no buffalo could see.
Evidently the herd had broken up
here-I knew that from the spoor-and
penetrated the opposite bush in little
troops.
l crossed the glade, and choosing one
line Of spoor followed 1t for some sixty
yards, when it became clear to me
that I was surrounded by buffalo, and
yet so dense was the cover that could
not see one.
A few yards to my left could hear
one rubbing its horns against tree.
while from my right came an occa-
sional low, throaty grunt which told
me that I was uncomfortably near an
old bull.
I crept on toward him with my heart
in my mouth, as gently as though
We're walking upon eggs for bet, lift
ing every little bit Of wood in my path
and placing it behind me, lest 1t should
crack and warn the game.
Behind me, in single file came my
three retainers, and don't know which
of them looked the most frightened.
Presently Gobo touched my leg.
l looked round, and saw him point
ing slantwise toward the left.
I lifted my head little and peered
over mass of creepers.
Beyond the creepers was a dense
bush Of sharp-pointed aloes. OF that
kind Of which the leaves project later
ally, and on the other side Of the alocS,
not fifteen PAGES from us, made ont
the horns, neck and the ridge Of the
back Of tremendous old bull
took my cight-bore, and getting
on my knee, prepared to shoot him
through the neck, taking my chance
Of cutting his spine.
l had already covered him. az we'll
as the aloe leaves would allow, when
he gave kind of sigh and lay down.
I looked round in dismay.
What was to be done now?
could not see to shoot him lying
down, even If my bullet would have
pierced the intervening alocs, which
was doubtful. and IL stood up he
would either run away or charge me-
l reflected. and came to the conclu-
sion that the only thing to do was to
lie down also. for did not fancy wan
lering after other buffalo in that dense
bush.
If buffalo lies down it is clear that
he must get up again some time; so
1t was only case Of patence-"fight-
ing the fight of sit down." as the Zulus
say
Accordingly sat down and lighted a
pipe. thinking that the smell of it
might reach the buffalo and make him
get up.
But the wind was the wrong way,
and it did not. so when it was done
lighted another.
Afterward I had cause to regret that
pipe.
Well. we squatted like this for be-
.ween half and three-quarters of an
1our, till at last began to grow heart
ly sick Of the performance.
1t was about as dull a business rs
the last hour of comic opera.
I could hear buffalo snorting and
moving all round. and see the red
5cakcd tie birds flying up off their
M nl- utth hind Of hfcc cnrnthtn,r
ike that Of an English missel-thrush,
,ut l could not see single buffalo.
AS for my old bull, think he must
nave slept the sleep of the just. for he
never even stirred.
Just as I was making up my mind
that something must be done to save
.he situation. my attention was at
tracted by a curious grinding noise.
At first thought that 1t must be
buffalo chewing the cud. but was
obliged to abandon the idea because
he noise was too loud.
shifted myself round and stared
through the cracks in the bush in the
direction whence the sound seemed te
come, and once / thought that'I saw
something gray moving about fifty
yards off. but could not make certain.
Although the grinding noise still con
tinued, l could see nothing more. sc
l gave up thinking about 1t, and ono,
again turned my attention to the buf
falo.
Presently, however, something hap
pened.
Suddenly from about forty ward,