Miss Boland afterward told us that the giraffes just turned their heads toward her when David came in sight; she was peeping over his neck to see whether they took alarm or not, and also to see where to guide him. He obeyed her slightest word, or rather the slightest pull that she gave upon one or other of the reins. The giraffes took no alarm whatever, but went on with their feeding among some scattered mimosa-trees on the plain. By the aid of the ox she got within ten yards of one of the giraffes—a medium-sized cow—and then, resting the rifle over David's shoulder, and getting good aim, she put a bullet straight into the heart of the towering beast, which came to the ground instantly. Before the rest of the herd could take alarm Miss Boland fired at another giraffe, barely thirty yards away, and laid it low with a broken foreshoulder.
MISS BOLAND SHOOTS TWO GIRAFFES.
When we heard the reports of her rifle we came over the slope at a gallop, and away we went in pursuit of the herd. Miss Boland exchanged David for her horse as soon as the after-rider arrived, and joined in the chase with us. She lost a little time in mounting, and so we distanced her as we pursued the fleeing game.
CHAPTER XVII.
MRS. ROBERTS KILLS A GIRAFFE—HUNTING THE
RHINOCEROS—MISS BOLAND SECURES A PET.
Jack brought down a giraffe, and so did Harry. I might have done as well, perhaps, but felt that politeness required me to look after Mrs. Roberts. She disclaimed all intention of trying to kill a giraffe, unless it came around in her way. After her exploit at stalking, Miss Boland joined us, and said she would leave the fleeing herd to the gentlemen, as she thought she had already had enough glory to satisfy her for that day. So we took places in the rear of Jack and Harry, and it was not long before they were out of sight.
We were jogging demurely along, and I suppose half an hour had passed, when I saw a cloud of dust away to the southward. I was at first doubtful about it, but looking a second and a third time, I was satisfied as to its character.
"You are to have your chance now, Mrs. Roberts," I said, doubtless with a good deal of animation.