isdom so Memba Sasa had
brought a lantern. By the light of this, we discovered our bull down,
and all but dead. To make sure, I put a Winchester bullet into his
backbone.

We felt ourselves legitimately open to congratulations, for we had
killed this bull from a practically nocturnal herd, in the face of
considerable danger and more than considerable difficulty. Therefore we
shook hands and made appropriate remarks to each other, lacking anybody
to make them for us.

By now it was pitch dark in the thicket, and just about so outside. We
had to do a little planning. I took the Holland gun, gave Memba Sasa the
Winchester, and started him for camp after help. As he carried off the
lantern, it was now up to me to make a fire and to make it quickly.

For the past hour a fine drizzle had been falling; and the whole country
was wet from previous rains. I hastily dragged in all the dead wood I
could find near, collected what ought to be good kindling, and started
in to light a fire. Now, although I am no Boy Scout, I have lit several
fires in my time. But never when I was at the same time in such a
desperate need and hurry; and in possession of such poor materials. The
harder I worked, the worse things sputtered and smouldered. Probably
the relief from the long tension of the buffalo hunt had something to
do with my general piffling inefficiency. If I had taken time to do a
proper job once instead of a halfway job a dozen times, as I should have
done and usually would have done, I would have had a fire in no time.
I imagine I was somewhat scared. The lioness and her hulking cub had
smelled the buffalo and were prowling around. I could hear them purring
and uttering their hollow grunts. However, at last the flame held. I
fed it sparingly, lit a pipe, placed the Holland gun next my hand, and
resigned myself to waiting. For two hours this was not so bad. I smoked,
and rested up, and dried out before my little fire. Then my fuel began
to run low. I arose and tore down all the remaining dead limbs within
the circle of my firelight. These were not many, so I stepped out into
the darkness for more. Immediately I was warned back by a deep growl!

The next hour was not one of such solid comfort. I began to get
parsimonious about my supply of firewood, trying to use it in such a
manner as to keep up an adequate blaze, and at the same time to make it
last until Memba Sasa should return with the men. I did it, though I got
down to char