A FRUITLESS CHASE, 193 bushes that fringed its banks, and where he had doubtless slept the night previous, to the plain not far from the spot where we had originally encountered the herd.

It soon became very evident that the object of our pursuit could not be far distant, and we crept forward with our rifles at full cock; when suddenly, from behind a thick tree we heard a rush, and, barely giving us a glimpse of his black hide, and affording no chance of a shot, he made his best pace for the khor again. Taking up his tracks, we followed them for about three miles, until we again reached the thick belt of nebbiiks ; and then the pursuit became more exciting, as each minute we expected to find ourselves face to face with him. The thorns, even to us, habituated as we were to the many frightful species which abound in this part of Africa, were something phenomenal ; and if our clothes had not been made of the toughest materials, we should have emerged less clothed than even the scantily clad Base.

This time the buffalo did not even indulge us with a sight of him, but, before we had been long in the bushes, again made for the more open country, taking much the same line as before.

The day being intensely hot, the thermometer in camp marking 105° in the shade, we cried a halt, and passed some three hours under a tree, in a lovely spot on the bank of the river. While resting there we noticed several gazelles and ariels come down to the river's side to drink, within easy shot of where we were sitting ; they all seemed very timid, and before daring to quench their thirst keenly scrutinized each rock or bush which might perchance conceal a hidden foe. They were apparently loath to trust themselves near the deep water, no doubt dreading the crocodiles with which the Settite abounds, and contented themselves with the warm water left in tiny pools by the daily receding river.