cH.viii FINE KOODOO BULL SHOT 141 



along the bush, in the hope of cutting them off as 

 they emerged on the farther side. I was just in 

 time, for the koodoos having, as I had anticipated, 

 turned up wind, passed me in single file at not more 

 than 120 yards' distance. The largest bull — -a 

 magnificent specimen of perhaps the handsomest 

 antelope in the world — came last, and as he cantered 

 easily by, I took him just in front of the shoulder to 

 allow for the rate at which he was going, and fired. 

 The shot, which told loudly as it struck, brought him 

 to his knees, but springing up again, he turned at 

 right angles to his former course and came bounding 

 along straight in my direction. Any one unacquainted 

 with the habits of the animal would have sworn that 

 he was charging ; but I knew well that it was but the 

 spasmodic rush which all animals make, after receiving 

 a ball through the heart. When within a few yards 

 of where I stood, he fell headlong to the earth, but 

 regaining his legs made another short rush, and then 

 falling forwards once more — with such force as to 

 break the bone of the lower jaw against a large piece 

 of stone — lay still for ever. This was the finest 

 koodoo I had yet shot, and indeed one of the finest 

 I had ever seen, and with admiration I gazed on its 

 graceful proportions, and small game-looking head, 

 surmounted by the long spiral horns. The rest of 

 our party now coming up, we resolved, as we were 

 only a few hundred yards from the river, to camp on 

 the spot, so, kindly assisted by Mr. Garden, I set to 

 work to carefully remove the skin from the head and 

 neck of my prize, which I was determined to preserve 

 in toto, with the long beard under the throat, and the 

 mane on the back of the neck. I may here say that 

 the horns of this koodoo measured 43 inches in 

 perpendicular height, that is, in a straight line from 



