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of the nature of a miraclemanaged to slay an elephant cow with fair
ivories； using the old rifle that went off at half…cock。
Never have I seen a man； black or white； so delighted as was that
vainglorious Kafir。 For whole hours he danced and sang and took snuff
and saluted with his hand； telling me the story of his deed over and
over again； no single version of which tale agreed with the other。 He
took a new title also； that meant 〃Eater…up…of…Elephants〃； he allowed
one of his men to 〃bonga〃that is； praisehim all through the night；
preventing us from getting a wink of sleep； until at last the poor
fellow dropped in a kind of fit from exhaustion； and so forth。 It
really was very amusing until it became a bore。
Besides the elephants we killed lots of other things； including two
lions； which I got almost with a right and left； and three white
rhinoceroses； that now； alas！ are nearly extinct。 At last； towards the
end of the third week； we had as much as our men could carry in the
shape of ivory； rhinoceros horns； skins and sun…dried buckflesh； or
biltong； and determined to start back for Umbezi's kraal next day。
Indeed； this could not be long delayed； as our powder and lead were
running low； for in those days； it will be remembered； breechloaders had
not come in； and ammunition； therefore； had to be carried in bulk。
To tell the truth； I was very glad that our trip had come to such a
satisfactory conclusion； for； although I would not admit it even to
myself； I could not get rid of a kind of sneaking dread lest after all
there might be something in the old dwarf's prophecy about a
disagreeable adventure with a buffalo which was in store for me。 Well；
as it chanced； we had not so much as seen a buffalo； and as the road
which we were going to take back to the kraal ran over high； bare
country that these animals did not frequent； there was now little
prospect of our doing soall of which； of course； showed what I already
knew； that only weak…headed superstitious idiots would put the slightest
faith in the drivelling nonsense of deceiving or self…deceived Kafir
medicine…men。 These things； indeed； I pointed out with much vigour to
Saduko before we turned in on the last night of the hunt。
Saduko listened in silence and said nothing at all； except that he would
not keep me up any longer； as I must be tired。
Now； whatever may be the reason for it； my experience in life is that it
is never wise to brag about anything。 At any rate； on a hunting trip；
to come to a particular instance； wait until you are safe at home till
you begin to do so。 Of the truth of this ancient adage I was now
destined to experience a particularly fine and concrete example。
The place where we had camped was in scattered bush overlooking a great
extent of dry reeds； that in the wet season was doubtless a swamp fed by
a small river which ran into it on the side opposite to our camp。
During the night I woke up； thinking that I heard some big beasts moving
in these reeds； but as no further sounds reached my ears I went to sleep
again。
Shortly after dawn I was awakened by a voice calling me； which in a hazy
fashion I recognised as that of Umbezi。
〃Macumazahn；〃 said the voice in a hoarse whisper； 〃the reeds below us
are full of buffalo。 Get up。 Get up at once。〃
〃What for？〃 I answered。 〃If the buffalo came into the reeds they will
go out of them。 We do not want meat。〃
〃No； Macumazahn； but I want their hides。 Panda； the King； has demanded
fifty shields of me； and without killing oxen that I can ill spare I
have not the skins whereof to make them。 Now； these buffalo are in a
trap。 This swamp is like a dish with one mouth。 They cannot get out at
the sides of the dish； and the mouth by which they came in is very
narrow。 If we station ourselves at either side of it we can kill many
of them。〃
By this time I was thoroughly awake and had arisen from my blankets。
Throwing a kaross over my shoulders； I left the hut； made of boughs； in
which I was sleeping and walked a few paces to the crest of a rocky
ridge； whence I could see the dry vlei below。 Here the mists of dawn
still clung； but from it rose sounds of grunts； bellows and tramplings
which I； an old hunter； could not mistake。 Evidently a herd of buffalo；
one or two hundred of them； had established themselves in those reeds。
Just then my bastard servant； Scowl； and Saduko joined us； both of them
full of excitement。
It appeared that Scowl； who never seemed to sleep at any natural time；
had seen the buffalo entering the reeds； and estimated their number at
two or three hundred。 Saduko had examined the cleft through which they
passed； and reported it to be so narrow that we could kill any number of
them as they rushed out to escape。
〃Quite so。 I understand；〃 I said。 〃Well； my opinion is that we had
better let them escape。 Only four of us； counting Umbezi； are armed
with guns； and assegais are not of much use against buffalo。 Let them
go； I say。〃
Umbezi； thinking of a cheap raw material for the shields which had been
requisitioned by the King； who would surely be pleased if they were made
of such a rare and tough hide as that of buffalo； protested violently；
and Saduko； either to please one whom he hoped might be his
father…in…law or from sheer love of sport； for which he always had a
positive passion； backed him up。 Only Scowlwhose dash of Hottentot
blood made him cunning and cautioustook my side； pointing out that we
were very short of powder and that buffalo 〃ate up much lead。〃 At last
Saduko said：
〃The lord Macumazana is our captain； we must obey him； although it is a
pity。 But doubtless the prophesying of Zikali weighs upon his mind； so
there is nothing to be done。〃
〃Zikali！〃 exclaimed Umbezi。 〃What has the old dwarf to do with this
matter？〃
〃Never mind what he has or has not to do with it；〃 I broke in； for
although I do not think that he meant them as a taunt； but merely as a
statement of fact； Saduko's words stung me to the quick； especially as
my conscience told me that they were not altogether without foundation。
〃We will try to kill some of these buffalo；〃 I went on； 〃although；
unless the herd should get bogged； which is not likely； as the swamp is
very dry； I do not think that we can hope for more than eight or ten at
the most； which won't be of much use for shields。 Come； let us make a
plan。 We have no time to lose； for I think they will begin to move
again before the sun is well up。〃
Half an hour later the four of us who were armed with guns were posted
behind rocks on either side of the steep； natural roadway cut by water；
which led down to the vlei； and with us some of Umbezi's men。 That
chief himself was at my sidea post of honour which he had insisted
upon taking。 To tell the truth； I did not dissuade him； for I thought
that I should be safer so than if he were opposite to me； since； even if
the old rifle did not go off of its own accord； Umbezi； when excited；
was a most uncertain shot。 The herd of buffalo appeared to have lain
down in the reeds； so； being careful to post ourselves first； we sent
three of the native bearers to the farther sid