Hunters three: Sport and adventure in South Africa

by Thomas Wallace Knox

While Jack was busy with his work of rescuing the castaways, Harry and I had hunted around for the dryest wood we could find; and we had no easy task of it, I assure you. We built a fire, on which we cooked the tongues of the two buffaloes; so that when the party had been ferried over to our side we had a hot lunch ready for them. They were not particularly hungry, having eaten the cold meat which Jack took to them; but a hot buffalo-tongue, fresh from the coals, is a delicacy which no one can refuse in South Africa, unless he has just gorged himself in imitation of an anaconda. We had a substantial feast all around, and then we mounted our horses and rode at a good pace to the ladies' camp.

We made very good time on our return-journey, as we did not stop to do any hunting on our way. We saw a herd of giraffes at quite a distance, and some scattered gemsbok and other members of the antelope family; but it was not considered worth while to pursue them.

When we reached the ladies' camp it was the intention of the three men of the party to leave immediately for their own wagons; but the manager told us that the cook had an ample lunch prepared, and, as the ladies urged us to stop, we did so, frankly telling them that we would consider it no breach of hospitality if they left us to ourselves.

Mrs. Roberts thanked us for our thoughtfulness in their behalf, and said that both she and Miss Boland would take advantage of our suggestion and excuse themselves; but before doing so they arranged to come to our camp the next day and go in pursuit of hippopotami. "We have not yet hunted hippos," said Mrs. Roberts, "and I'm sure the sport will be very interesting."

We finished our meal, and then went home. It was too late in the day to think of anything like hunting, and so we busied ourselves with a few preparations for the affair of the next day.

Jack was in great glee, and Harry correspondingly depressed, over the subject of the boat; as the craft was of Jack's design and construction, the honor and pleasure of accompanying our guests would be his, while Harry and I would be obliged to take a back seat. Harry felt so ugly about it that he suggested, privately, to me a wish that the boat could be smashed all to smithereens. I evaded the subject, and endeavored to divert his thoughts by asking what a smithereen is, and whether it is something to eat, wear, or play with. This set him laughing, and he forgot his jealousy, at least for the moment.

One of our oxen died just about nightfall, and we had his carcass dragged out of the kraal and put on a ridge where it would afford a good chance for shooting. There was a hollow at one side, and a person crouched in this hollow would have the carcass between himself and the sky. We went to bed soon after sunset, so as to lay in a good stock of sleep before the lions came around to make a meal from the remains of the ox.

We were tired enough to go to sleep immediately; and the lions treated us very kindly, as they did not show up until about three o'clock in the morning. Then the manager came and waked us with the information that there was a group of lions at the carcass. He could hear them distinctly, growling and snarling in their leonine way, and he thought there were several of them, judging by the noise they made.

We took our heavy rifles and crept out to the spot we had previously selected as a good firing-point. Crouching in the hollow, or rather in the hole which we had ordered the Kafirs to dig, we had a fine position—that is, fine in every way except in case the lions should conclude to attack us. In that event it would not have been a bit fine.

I was standing at the right of our line as we faced the target—that is, the body of the ox—and it was agreed that I was to have the first fire. We waited several minutes before I had a chance; then a fine large lion stood up, and I could see his entire outline against the sky beyond the ridge. We had put pieces of white paper on our guns, so as to be able to see the foresights, and we found the arrangement worked very well. I got a good bead on the lion, and fired; he fell, but gave a tremendous roar in so doing. Whether he was killed or only wounded I was unable to say; but by the speedy cessation of the roar I thought that the former was the case.