hed the hedges; which caused several natives to
dart into the enclosure, who from beneath the shelter of oval shields as
large as themselves, threw their spears with unerring certainty into the
sides of the terrified creatures.

At this moment there was a general rush from the scattered groups of
trees and clumps of jungle, for the animals were now maddened with
terror, not only at the shouts of their human persecutors, but at their
own wild cries and the increasing thunder of their tread.

The shouting and tumult now became excessive. It was almost
bewildering. I looked round upon the faces of the negroes nearest to
me. They seemed to be almost insane with suppressed excitement, and
their dark faces worked in a manner that was quite awful to witness.

Presently there was a general and indiscriminate rush of all kinds of
wild animals towards the narrow end of the hopo. The natives pressed in
upon them with wild cries. Spears flew in all directions. Ere long the
plain was covered with wounded animals struggling and bellowing in their
death-agonies. As the rushing multitude drew nearer to the fatal pit,
they became crowded together, and now the men near us began to play
their part.

"Look out, Jack!" I cried, as a buffalo bull with glaring eyes and
foaming jaws made a desperate effort to leap over the barrier in our
very faces.

Jack raised his rifle and fired; at the same instant a spear was sent
into the buffalo's breast, and it fell back to form a stumbling-block in
the way of the rushing mass.

The report of the rifle caused the whole herd to swerve from our side so
violently that they bore down the other side, until I began to fear the
hedge would give way altogether; but they were met by the spears and the
furious yells of the natives there, and again swept on towards the
narrow lane.

And now the head of the bellowing mass came to the edge of the pit.
Those in front seemed to suspect danger, for they halted suddenly; but
the rush of those behind forced them on. In another moment the thin
covering gave way, and a literal cataract of huge living creatures went
surging down into the abyss.

The scene that followed was terrible to witness; and I could not regard
it with other than feelings of intense horror, despite my knowledge of
the fact that a large tribe of natives depended on the game then slain
for their necessary food. The maddened animals attempted to leap out of
the pit, but the overlappin