The Boers stretched out their white faces and stared at me; I saw them out of the corner of my eye as I loaded again.

Another vulture came; seeing one of its companions on the ground, if in a somewhat unnatural attitude, perhaps it thought that there could be nothing to fear.

I leaned against my rock, aimed, and fired, almost carelessly, so sure was I of the result.

This time I did not shut my eyes, but watched to see what happened.
The bullet struck the bird between its thighs, raked it from end to end, and down it came like a stone almost upon the top of its fellow.
"Good, good!" said Hans with a guttural chuckle of delight.

"Now, baas, make no mistake with the third, and 'als sall recht kommen' (all shall be well)." "Yes," I answered; "_if_ I make no mistake with the third." I loaded the rifle again myself, being very careful to ram down the powder well and to select a bullet that fitted perfectly true to the bore.