the land of footprints-第43章
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wever we wanted a piece of hide； and then tried to retrieve them。 One such occasion showed very vividly the tenacity of life and the primitive nervous systems of these great saurians。
I discovered the beast； head out of water； in a reasonable sized pool below which were shallow rapids。 My Springfield bullet hit him fair； whereupon he stood square on his head and waved his tail in the air； rolled over three or four times； thrashed the water； and disappeared。 After waiting a while we moved on downstream。 Returning four hours later I sneaked up quietly。 There the crocodile lay sunning himself on the sand bank。 I supposed he must be dead； but when I accidentally broke a twig； he immediately commenced to slide off into the water。 Thereupon I stopped him with a bullet in the spine。 The first shot had smashed a hole in his head； just behind the eye； about the size of an ordinary coffee cup。 In spite of this wound； which would have been instantly fatal to any warm…blooded animal； the creature was so little affected that it actually reacted to a slight noise made at some distance from where it lay。 Of course the wound would probably have been fatal in the long run。
The best spot to shoot at； indeed； is not the head but the spine immediately back of the head。
These brutes are exceedingly powerful。 They are capable of taking down horses and cattle； with no particular effort。 This I know from my own observation。 Mr。 Fleischman； however； was privileged to see the wonderful sight of the capture and destruction of a full…grown rhinoceros by a crocodile。 The photographs he took of this most extraordinary affair leave no room for doubt。 Crossing a stream was always a matter of concern to us。 The boys beat the surface of the water vigorously with their safari sticks。 On occasion we have even let loose a few heavy bullets to stir up the pool before venturing in。
A steep climb through thorn and brush would always extricate us from the river jungle when we became tired of it。 Then we found ourselves in a continuous but scattered growth of small trees。 Between the trunks of these we could see for a hundred yards or so before their numbers closed in the view。 Here was the favourite haunt of numerous beautiful impalla。 We caught glimpses of them； flashing through the trees； or occasionally standing； gazing in our direction； their slender necks stretched high； their ears pointed for us。 These curious ones were generally the does。 The bucks were either more cautious or less inquisitive。 A herd or so of eland also liked this covered country； and there were always a few waterbuck and rhinoceroses about。 Often too we here encountered stragglers from the open plains…zebra or hartebeeste； very alert and suspicious in unaccustomed surroundings。
A great deal of the plains country had been burned over； and a considerable area was still afire。 The low bright flames licked their way slowly through the grass in a narrow irregular band extending sometimes for miles。 Behind it was blackened soil； and above it rolled dense clouds of smoke。 Always accompanied it thousands of birds wheeling and dashing frantically in and out of the murk； often fairly at the flames themselves。 The published writings of a certain worthy and sentimental person waste much sympathy over these poor birds dashing frenziedly about above their destroyed nests。 As a matter of fact they are taking greedy advantage of a most excellent opportunity to get insects cheap。 Thousands of the common red…billed European storks patrolled the grass just in front of the advancing flames； or wheeled barely above the fire。 Grasshoppers were their main object； although apparently they never objected to any small mammals or reptiles that came their way。 Far overhead wheeled a few thousand more assorted soarers who either had no appetite or had satisfied it。
The utter indifference of the animals to the advance of a big conflagration always impressed me。 One naturally pictures the beasts as fleeing wildly； nostrils distended； before the devouring element。 On the contrary I have seen kongoni grazing quite peacefully with flames on three sides of them。 The fire seems to travel rather slowly in the tough grass； although at times and for a short distance it will leap to a wild and roaring life。 Beasts will then lope rapidly away to right or left； but without excitement。
On these open plains we were more or less pestered with ticks of various sizes。 These clung to the grass blades； but with no invincible preference for that habitat； trousers did them just as well。 Then they ascended looking for openings。 They ranged in size from little red ones as small as the period of a printed page to big patterned fellows the size of a pea。 The little ones were much the most abundant。 At times I have had the front of my breeches so covered with them that their numbers actually imparted a reddish tinge to the surface of the cloth。 This sounds like exaggeration； but it is a measured statement。 The process of de…ticking （new and valuable word） can then be done only by scraping with the back of a hunting knife。
Some people； of tender skin； are driven nearly frantic by these pests。 Others； of whom I am thankful to say I am one； get off comparatively easy。 In a particularly bad tick country； one generally appoints one of the youngsters as 〃tick toto。〃 It is then his job in life to de…tick any person or domestic animal requiring his services。 His is a busy existence。 But though at first the nuisance is excessive； one becomes accustomed to it in a remarkably short space of time。 The adaptability of the human being is nowhere better exemplified。 After a time one gets so that at night he can remove a marauding tick and cast it forth into the darkness without even waking up。 Fortunately ticks are local in distribution。 Often one may travel weeks or months without this infliction。
I was always interested and impressed to observe how indifferent the wild animals seem to be to these insects。 Zebra； rhinoceros and giraffe seem to be especially good hosts。 The loathsome creatures fasten themselves in clusters wherever they can grip their fangs。 Thus in a tick country a zebra's ears； the lids and corners of his eyes； his nostrils and lips； the soft skin between his legs and body； and between his hind legs； and under his tail are always crusted with ticks as thick as they can cling。 One would think the drain on vitality would be enormous； but the animals are always plump and in condition。 The same state of affairs obtains with the other two beasts named。 The hartebeeste also carries ticks but not nearly in the same abundance； while such creatures as the waterbuck； impalla； gazelles and the smaller bucks seem either to be absolutely free from the pests； or to have a very few。 Whether this is because such animals take the trouble to rid themselves； or because they are more immune from attack it would be difficult to say。 I have found ticks clinging to the hair of lions； but never fastened to the flesh。 It is probable that they had been brushed off from the grass in passing。 Perhaps ticks do not like lions； waterbuck； Tommies； et al。； or perhaps only big coarse…grained common brutes like zebra and rhinos will stand them at all。
XX。 DIVERS ADVENTURES ALONG THE TANA
Late one afternoon I shot a wart…hog in the tall grass。 The beast was an unusually fine specimen； so I instructed Fundi and the porters to take the head； and myself started for camp with Memba Sasa。 I had gone not over a hundred yards when I was recalled by wild and agonized appeals of 〃Bwana！ bwana！〃 The long…legged Fundi was repeatedly leaping straight up in the air to an astonishing height above the long grass； curling his legs up under him at each jump； and yelling like a steam…engine。 Returning promptly； I found that the wart…hog had come to life at the first prick of the knife。 He was engaged in charging back and forth in an earnest effort to tusk Fundi； and the latter was jumping high in an equally earnest effort to keep out of the way。 Fortunately he proved agile enough to do so until I planted another bullet in the aggressor。
These wart…hogs are most comical brutes from whatever angle one views them。 They have a patriarchal； self…satisfied； suburban ma
