more cautiously。 He moved forward a few feet； peered about； retraced his steps。 Suddenly his face broke into a broad grin。 Following his indication we looked up； and there in a tree almost above us roosted one of our boys sound asleep！ We whistled at him。 Thereupon he awoke； tried to look very alert； and pointed in the direction we should go。 After an interval we picked up another sentinel； and another； and another until； passed on thus from one to the next； we traced the movements of the herd。 Finally we came upon Mavrouki and Simba under a bush。 From them； in whispers； we learned that the buffalo were karibu sana…very near； that they had fed this far； and were now lying in the long grass just ahead。 Leaving the men； we now continued our forward movement on hands and knees； in single file。 It was very hot work； for the sun beat square down on us； and the tall grass kept off every breath of air。 Every few moments we rested； lying on our faces。 Occasionally； when the grass shortened； or the slant of ground tended to expose us； we lay quite flat and hitched forward an inch at a time by the strength of our toes。 This was very severe work indeed； and we were drenched in perspiration。 In fact； as I had been feeling quite ill all day； it became rather doubtful whether I could stand the pace。
However after a while we managed to drop down into an eroded deep little ravine。 Here the air was like that of a furnace； but at least we could walk upright for a few rods。 This we did； with the most extraordinary precautions against even the breaking of a twig or the rolling of a pebble。 Then we clambered to the top of the bank； wormed our way forward another fifty feet to the shelter of a tiny bush； and stretched out to recuperate。 We lay there some time； sheltered from the sun。 Then ahead of us suddenly rumbled a deep bellow。 We were fairly upon the herd！
Cautiously F。； who was nearest the centre of the bush； raised himself alongside the stem to look。 He could see where the beasts were lying； not fifty yards away； but he could make out nothing but the fact of great black bodies taking their ease in the grass under the shade of trees。 So much he reported to us； then rose again to keep watch。
Thus we waited the rest of the afternoon。 The sun dipped at last toward the west； a faint irregular breeze wandered down from the hills； certain birds awoke and uttered their clear calls； an unsuspected kongoni stepped from the shade of a tree over the way and began to crop the grass； the shadows were lengthening through the trees。 Then ahead of us an uneasiness ran through the herd。 We in the grass could hear the mutterings and grumblings of many great animals。 Suddenly F。 snapped his fingers； stooped low and darted forward。 We scrambled to our feet and followed。
Across a short open space we ran； bent double to the shelter of a big ant hill。 Peering over the top of this we found ourselves within sixty yards of a long compact column of the great black beasts； moving forward orderly to the left； the points of the cow's horns； curved up and in； tossing slowly as the animals walked。 On the flank of the herd was a big gray bull。
It had been agreed that B。 was to have the shot。 Therefore he opened fire with his 405 Winchester； a weapon altogether too light for this sort of work。 At the shot the herd dashed forward to an open grass meadow a few rods away； wheeled and faced back in a compact mass； their noses thrust up and out in their typical fashion； trying with all their senses to locate the cause of the disturbance。
Taking advantage both of the scattered cover； and the half light of the shadows we slipped forward as rapidly and as unobtrusively as we could to the edge of the grass meadow。 Here we came to a stand eighty yards from the buffaloes。 They stood compactly like a herd of cattle； staring； tossing their heads； moving slightly； their wild eyes searching for us。 I saw several good bulls； but always they moved where it was impossible to shoot without danger of getting the wrong beast。 Finally my chance came； I planted a pair of Holland bullets in the shoulder of one of them。
The herd broke away to the right； sweeping past us at close range。 My bull ran thirty yards with them； then went down stone dead。 When we examined him we found the hole made by B。's Winchester bullet； so that quite unintentionally and by accident I had fired at the same beast。 This was lucky。 The trophy； by hunter's law； of course； belonged to B。
Therefore F。 and I alone followed on after the herd。 It was now coming on dusk。 Within a hundred yards we began to see scattered beasts。 The formation of the herd had broken。 Some had gone on in flight； while others in small scattered groups would stop to stare back； and would then move slowly on for a few paces before stopping again。 Among these I made out a bull facing us about a hundred and twenty…five yards away； and managed to stagger him； but could not bring him down。
Now occurred an incident which I should hesitate to relate were it not that both F。 and myself saw it。 We have since talked it over； compared our recollections； and found them to coincide in every particular。
As we moved cautiously in pursuit of the slowly retreating herd three cows broke back and came running down past us。 We ducked aside and hid； of course； but noticed that of the three two were very young； while one was so old that she had become fairly emaciated； a very unusual thing with buffaloes。 We then followed the herd for twenty minutes； or until twilight； when we turned back。 About halfway down the slope we again met the three cows； returning。 They passed us within twenty yards； but paid us no attention whatever。 The old cow was coming along very reluctantly； hanging back at every step； and every once in a while swinging her head viciously at one or the other of her two companions。 These escorted her on either side； and a little to the rear。 They were plainly urging her forward； and did not hesitate to dig her in the ribs with their horns whenever she turned especially obstinate。 In fact they acted exactly like a pair of cowboys HERDING a recalcitrant animal back to its band and I have no doubt at all that when they first by us the old lady was making a break for liberty in the wrong direction； AND THAT THE TWO YOUNGER COWS WERE TRYING TO ROUND HER BACK！ Whether they were her daughters or not is problematical； but it certainly seemed that they were taking care of her and trying to prevent her running back where it was dangerous to go。 I never heard of a similar case。 though Herbert Ward* mentions； without particulars that elephants AND BUFFALOES will assist each other WHEN WOUNDED。
*A Voice from the COngo。
After passing these we returned to where B。 and the men； who had now come up； had prepared the dead bull for transportation。 We started at once； travelling by the stars； shouting and singing to discourage the lions； but did not reach camp until well into the night。
XXV。 THE BUFFALO…continued
Some months later； and many hundreds of miles farther south； Billy and I found ourselves alone with twenty men； and two weeks to pass until C。…our companion at the time…should return from a long journey out with a wounded man。 By slow stages； and relaying back and forth； we landed in a valley so beautiful in every way that we resolved to stay as long as possible。 This could be but five days at most。 At the end of that time we must start for our prearranged rendezvous with C。
The valley was in the shape of an ellipse； the sides of which were formed by great clifflike mountains； and the other two by hills lower； but still of considerable boldness and size。 The longest radius was perhaps six or eight miles； and the shortest three or four。 At one end a canyon dropped away to a lower level； and at the other a pass in the hills gave over to the country of the Narassara River。 The name of the valley was Lengeetoto。
》From the great mountains flowed many brooks of clear sparkling water； that ran beneath the most beautiful of open jungles； to unite finally in one main stream that disappeared down the canyon。 Between these brooks were low broad rolling hills； sometimes grass covered； sometimes grown thinly with bushes。 Where they headed in the mountains； long stringers of forest trees ran up to blocklike groves； apparently pasted like wafers against the base of the cliffs； but in reality occupying spacious slopes below them。
We decided to camp at the foot of a long grass slant within a hundred yards of the trees along one of the small streams。 Before us we had the sweep of brown grass rising to a clear cut skyline； and all about us the distant great hills behind which the day dawned and fell。 One afternoon a herd of giraffes stood silhouetted on this skyline quite a half hour gazing curiously down on our camp。 Hartebeeste and zebra swarmed in the grassy openings； and impalla in the brush。 We saw sing…sing and steinbuck； and other animals； and heard lions nearly every night。 But principally we elected to stay because a herd of buffaloes ranged the foothills and dwelt in the groves of forest trees under the cliffs。 We wanted a buffalo； and as Lengeetoto is practically unknown to white men； we thought this a good chance to get one。 In that I reckoned without the fact that at certain seasons the Masai bring their cattle in； and at such times annoy the buffalo all they can。
We started out well enough。 I sent Memba Sasa with two men to locate the herd。 About three o'clock a messenger came to camp after me。 We plunged through our own jungle； crossed a low swell； traversed another jungle； and got in touch with the other two men。 They reported the buffalo had entered the thicket a few hundred yards below us。 Cautiously reconnoitering the ground it soon became evident that we would be forced more definitely to locate the herd。 To be sure； they had entered the stream jungle at a known point； but there could be no telling how far they might continue in the thicket； nor on what side of it they would emerge at sundown。 Therefore we commenced cautiously and slowly follow the trail。
The going was very thick； naturally； and we could not see very far ahead。 Our object was not now to try for a bull； but merely to find where the herd was feeding； in orde