XVIII CURIOUS INCIDENT 383 



wound, struck the animal too high up just in front 

 of the Joins, and must have just grazed the backbone, 

 for he fell to the shot as if struck by lightning. 



As we had but very few cartridges left, and 

 feared to run short in case of meeting with elephants, 

 and as the eland appeared unable to rise, we did not 

 at once despatch him, but waited for the Kafirs to 

 come up and administer the coup de grace with their 

 assegais. In the meantime, we led the horses down 

 to the nearest pool of water, about 100 yards distant, 

 a?id after off- saddling, knee -haltered them. The 

 Kafirs were now close up, so calling to them 

 to conie on quickly, Clarkson and I walked back 

 to the eland. As we neared him he made another 

 violent and almost successful effort to rise, so I 

 turned again and shouted to the Kafirs to bring an 

 assegai. Three of them ran up, but not having 

 heard what I said, and seeing the eland lying flat 

 on the ground, apparently dead, they had only 

 brought knives to cut up the meat. As they rushed 

 up, the eland made another tremendous effort, and 

 this time gained his feet. For an instant he stood 

 still, then staggered forwards, gaining strength at 

 every step, till he was soon going off at a trot that 

 a footman stood no chance of keeping up with. 

 Having neither rifle nor assegai, we were unable to 

 hinder his escape in any way. Clarkson and the 

 boys ran after him, shouting to the other Kafirs to 

 bring a rifle ; whilst I, thinking they would never 

 get up to him on foot, ran back to the water, hastily 

 caught and saddled up Clarkson's horse, and then 

 seizing my rifle, galloped at full speed in the direction 

 taken by the eland, that was now out of sight in a 

 patch of scattered bush. At length I caught sight 

 of him, and galloping in front, endeavoured to turn 



