178 HUNTING IN THE SOTHv [ch. vm 



two old wildebeest bulls, and they joined in the pro- 

 cession, looking as if they too were pursuing the cheetah. 

 The cheetah ran first ; the two bulls, bounding and 

 sMdtching their tails, came next ; and Kermit, racing in 

 the rear, gained steadily. Wildebeest are the oddest 

 in nature and conduct, and in many ways the most 

 interesting, of all antelopes. There is in their temper 

 something queer, fiery, eccentric, and their actions are 

 abrupt and violent. A single bull will stand motionless, 

 with head raised to stare at an intruder until the latter 

 is a quarter of a mile off; then down goes his head, his 

 tail is lashed up and around, and off he gallops, plunging, 

 kicking, and shaking his liead. He may go straight 

 away, he may circle round, or even approach nearer to 

 the intruder ; and then he halts again to stare motion- 

 less, and perhaps to utter his grunt of alarm and 

 defiance. A herd, when approached, after fixed staring, 

 will move off, perhaps at a canter. Soon tlie leaders 

 make a half-wheel, and lead their followers in a semi- 

 circle ; suddenly a couple of old bulls leave the rest, 

 and at a tearing gallop describe a semicircle in exactly 

 the opposite direction, racing by their comrades as these 

 canter the other way. AVith one accord the whole 

 troop may then halt and stare again at the object they 

 suspect ; then off they all go at a headlong ran, kicking 

 and bucking, tearing at full speed in one direction, then 

 suddenly wheeling in semicircles so abrupt as to be 

 almost zigzags, the dust flying in clouds ; and two bulls 

 may suddenly drop to their knees, and for a moment 

 or two tight furiously in their own peculiar fashion. 

 By careful stalking, Kermit got some good pictures of 

 the wildebeest, in spite of their wariness. Like other 

 game, they seem most apt to lie down during the heat 

 of the day ; but they may lie down at night too. At 



