They passed a clump of bushes and immediately afterwards heard a great shuffling and lapping of water below them.

The shikari stopped abruptly and seized the bridle of Hillyard's donkey.

The night was so still that the noise at the water's edge below seemed to fill the world.
Hillyard slipped off the back of his donkey and took his rifle from his boy.
"_Gamus!_" whispered the shikari.
Hillyard almost swore aloud.

There was a creek, three hours' march away, where the reed buck came down to drink in the morning.

For that creek Hillyard was now making with a little Mannlicher sporting rifle--and he had tumbled suddenly upon buffalo! He was on the very edge of the buffalo country, he would see no more between here and the houses of Senga.
It was his last chance and he had nothing but a popgun! He was still reproaching himself when a small but startling change took place.