212 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



a COW. She has a broken hind-leg, but it is yet ten 

 minutes before the Boer can get near enough to her 

 to give her another shot and then finish her with a 

 third bullet. Leaving the dead cow in the grass, 

 once more Botha gallops in pursuit. He has a stern 

 chase, but the antelopes are tiring now. They have 

 scattered somewhat, and the hunter at length, in a 

 wide clearing of the open forest, comes suddenly 

 upon three of the game, two cows and a young bull, 

 standing again. In an instant he is off his horse, 

 levels his rifle, and the bull falls. The Dutchman 

 walks up. The poor buck's spine is injured ; but 

 though disabled, he can use his horns, and a sable 

 antelope is a dangerous beast to approach at close 

 quarters. Once more the rifle sounds, and at the 

 report the stricken beast kicks thrice convulsively 

 and stretches himself, dead. The Boer knee-halters 

 his pony, takes off his coat, and, with the sweat 

 streaming from him, sets to work to skin his prize. 

 He has done a good morning's business, and is well 

 satisfied. The three skins will bring him five-and- 

 twenty shillings, and the heads, which a few years 

 ago he used to throw away, he can certainly sell for a 

 sovereign in Johannesburg to those idiotic English- 

 men. The meat will, most of it, be salted, sun-dried, 

 and turned into " biiltong, " another marketable com- 

 modity. And so perishes the game of South Africa ! 



