the land of footprints-第49节
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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。 And the daylight drained away and the minutes ticked by！
Finally； as I could see no end to this performance save that to which we had been so sickeningly accustomed in the last four days； I motioned to Memba Sasa； and together we glided like shadows into the thicket。
There it was already dusk。 We sneaked breathlessly through the small openings； desperately in a hurry； almost painfully on the alert。 In the dark shadow sixty yards ahead stood a half dozen monstrous bodies all facing our way。 They suspected the presence of something unusual； but in the darkness and the stillness they could neither identify it nor locate it exactly。 I dropped on one knee and snatched my prism glasses to my eyes。 The magnification enabled me to see partially into the shadows。 Every one of the group carried the sharply inturned points to the horns： they were all cows！
An instant after I had made out this fact； they stampeded across our face。 The whole band thundered and crashed away。
Desperately we sprang after them； our guns atrail； our bodies stooped low to keep down in the shadow of the earth。 And suddenly； without the slightest warning we plumped around a bush square on top of the entire herd。 It had stopped and was staring back in our direction。 I could see nothing but the wild toss of a hundred pair of horns silhouetted against such of the irregular saffron afterglow as had not been blocked off by the twigs and branches of the thicket。 All below was indistinguishable blackness。
They stood in a long compact semicircular line thirty yards away； quite still； evidently staring intently into the dusk to find out what had alarmed them。 At any moment they were likely to make another rush； and if they did so in the direction they were facing； they would most certainly run over us and trample us down。
Remembering the dusk I thought it likely that the unexpected vivid flash of the gun might turn them off before they got started。 Therefore I raised the big double Holland； aimed below the line of heads； and was just about to pull trigger when my eye caught the silhouette of a pair of horns whose tips spread out instead of turning in。 This was a bull； and I immediately shifted the gun in his direction。 At the heavy double report； the herd broke wildly to right and left and thundered away。 I confess I was quite relieved。
A low moaning bellow told us that our bull was down。 The last few days' experience at being out late had taught us wisdom 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 charred ends before I was through。 The old lioness hung around within a hundred yards or so below； and the buffalo herd； returning； filed by above； pausing to stamp and snort at the fire。 Finally； about nine o'clock； I made out two lanterns bobbing up to me through the trees。
The last incident to be selected from many experiences with buffaloes took place in quite an unvisited district over the mountains from the Loieta Plains。 For nearly two months we had ranged far in this lovely upland country of groves and valleys and wide grass bottoms between hills； hunting for greater kudu。 One day we all set out from camp to sweep the base of a range of low mountains in search of a good specimen of Newman's hartebeeste； or anything else especially desirable that might happen along。 The gentle slope from the mountains was of grass cut by numerous small ravines grown with low brush。 This brush was so scanty as to afford but indifferent cover for anything larger than one of the small grass antelopes。 All the ravines led down a mile or so to a deeper main watercourse paralleling the mountains。 Some water stood in the pools here； and the cover was a little more dense； but consisted at best of but a 〃stringer〃 no wider than a city street。 Flanking the stringer were scattered high bushes for a few yards； and then the open country。 Altogether as unlikely a place for the shade…loving buffalo as could be imagined。
We collected our Newmanii after rather a long hunt； and just at noon； when the heat of the day began to come on； we wandered down to the water for lunch。 Here we found a good clear pool and drank。 The boys began to make themselves comfortable by the water's edge； C。 went to superintend the disposal of Billy's mule。 Billy had sat down beneath the shade of the most hospitable of the bushes a hundred feet or so away； and was taking off her veil and gloves。 I was carrying to her the lunch box。 When I was about halfway from where the boys were drinking at the stream's edge to where she sat； a buffalo bull thrust his head from the bushes just the other side of her。 His head was thrust up and forward； as he reached after some of the higher tender leaves on the bushes。 So close was he that I could see plainly the drops glistening on his moist black nose。 As for Billy； peacefully unwinding her long veil； she seemed fairly under the beast。
I had no weapon； and any moment might bring some word or some noise that would catch the animal's attention。 Fortunately； for the moment； every one； relaxed in the first reaction after the long morning； was keeping silence。 If the buffalo should look down； he could not fail to see Billy； and if he saw her； he would indubitably kill her。
As has been explained； snapping the fingers does not seem to reach the attention of wild animals。 Therefore I snapped mine as vigorously as I knew how。 Billy heard； looked toward me； turned in the direction of my gaze； and slowly sank prone against the ground。 Some of the boys heard me also； and I could see the heads of all of them popping up in interest from the banks of the stream。 My cautious but very frantic signals to lie low were understood： the heads dropped back。 Mavrouki； a rifle in each hand； came worming his way toward me through the grass with incredible quickness and agility。 A moment later he thrust the 405 Winchester into my hand。
This weapon； powerful and accur
