This incident shows the great
drawback to the .303 - namely, that it has very
little knock-down effect unless it strikes a vital
part; and even then, in a bush country, an
animal may manage to go far enough to be
lost. On the other hand, an animal wounded
with a hard bullet is likely to make a speedy
recovery, which is a great blessing.
Mahina was even more upset at the escape of
the buck than I was, and as we trudged back
through the sand to our tree, he was full of gloomy
forebodings of an unlucky night. By the light
of a splendid full moon we settled ourselves on
a great outspreading branch, and commenced
our vigil. Soon the jungle around us began
to be alive with its peculiar sounds - a night
bird would call, a crocodile shut his jaws with
a snap, or a rhino or hippo crash through the
bushes on its way to the water: now and again
we could even hear the distant roar of the lion.
Still there was nothing to be seen.
After waiting for some considerable time, a
great hippo at last made his appearance and
came splashing along in our direction, but
unfortunately took up his position behind a tree which,
in the most tantalising way, completely hid him
from view.
