t being able to find anything like a really
safe crossing place, so in desperation I at last determined to take the
risk of crossing it along an old rhino path where the reeds were
flattened down. My pony floundered bravely through, and eventually
succeeded in getting safely to the other side. I then made my way
cautiously through the belt of trees, and was relieved to find that it
was only half a mile or so broad. I dismounted as I neared the further
side, and, tying my pony to a tree, crept quietly forward, expecting to
see the eland not far off; but to my disappointment there was no trace
of game of any kind on the whole wide stretch of country that met my
view. I therefore tried another direction, and, taking a half turn to
my left, made my way carefully through some open glades to the top of a
little rise not far off.

The sight that now met my eyes fairly took my breath away; for there,
not three hundred yards off and stalking placidly along at a slow walk,
was a herd of fully a hundred eland of all ages and sizes. The rear of
the column was brought up by a magnificent old bull, and my heart
jumped for joy as I watched him from the shelter of the bushes behind
which I lay concealed. The next thing to be done was to decide on a
plan of attack, and this had to be thought of without loss of time, for
the wind was blowing from me almost in the direction of the eland, who
would certainly scent me very soon if I did not get away. Quickly
noting the direction in which they were moving, I saw that if all went
well they ought to pass close to a little hillock about a mile or so
off; and if I were very sharp about it, I thought I could make a
circuit through the wood and be on this rise, in a good position for
both wind and cover, before the herd could reach it. Accordingly I
crept away with the object of finding my mount, but to my delight--just
behind me and well hidden--stood the undefeated Landaalu, who in some
mysterious way had followed me up, found the pony where I had left it
tied to a tree, and brought it on to me. With a bright grin on his face
he thrust the reins into my hand, and I was up and galloping off in an
instant.

I soon discovered that I had further to go than I expected, for I was
forced to make a big detour in order to keep out of sight of the herd;
but on halting once or twice and peeping through the trees I saw that
all was going well and that they were still calmly moving on in the
right directio