e had no faith in those buffaloes, but about half-past three
we sallied forth dutifully and took position on a hill overlooking the
new hiding place. This consisted of a wide grove of forest trees varied
by occasional open glades and many dense thickets. So eager were we to
win what had by now developed into a contest that I refused to shoot a
lioness with a three-quarters-grown cub that appeared within easy shot
from some reeds below us.

Time passed as usual until nearly sunset. Then through an opening into
one of the small glades we caught sight of the herd travelling slowly
but steadily from right to left. The glimpse was only momentary, but it
was sufficient to indicate the direction from which we might expect them
to emerge. Therefore we ran at top speed down from our own hill, tore
through the jungle at its foot, and hastily, but with more caution,
mounted the opposite slope through the scattered groves and high grass.
We could hear occasionally indications of the buffaloes' slow advance,
and we wanted to gain a good ambuscade above them before they emerged.
We found it in the shape of a small conical hillock perched on the
side hill itself, and covered with long grass. It commanded open vistas
through the scattered trees in all directions. And the thicket itself
ended not fifty yards away. No buffalo could possibly come out without
our seeing him; and we had a good half hour of clear daylight before us.
It really seemed that luck had changed at last.

We settled ourselves, unlimbered for action, and got our breath. The
buffaloes came nearer and nearer. At length, through a tiny opening a
hundred yards away, we could catch momentary glimpses of their great
black bodies. I thrust forward the safety catch and waited. Finally
a half dozen of the huge beasts were feeding not six feet inside the
circle of brush, and only thirty-odd yards from where we lay.

And they came no farther! I never passed a more heart-breaking half hour
of suspense than that in which little by little the daylight and our
hopes faded, while those confounded buffaloes moved slowly out to the
very edge of the thicket, turned, and moved as slowly back again. At
times they came actually into view. We could see their sleek black
bodies rolling lazily into sight and back again, like seals on the
surface of water, but never could we make out more than that. I could
have had a dozen good shots, but I could not even guess what I would be
shooting at.