142 LARGE GAME. chap. iii. 



I found myself able to improve the pace, and making 

 a strong burst, I got within ninety yards of them, but, 

 on their looking round and seeing me, I had to keep 

 myself at top speed for the next hour or more, barely 

 holding my own. So far we had been running on an 

 almost dead level, but now the ground suddenly changed 

 to a broken stony ridge, leading to a still roughei- hill, 

 and though the stones were against me, the steepness 

 was in my favom', and I gained so steadily, that I 

 thought I could afibrd the delay of firing, and so, pulling 

 up, I did the best my long run would allow, which was 

 only to knock the dust up among their legs. The shot, 

 however, made them swerve heavily, and I almost think 

 that what I lost in distance I gained in wind, for we 

 were on a steep part of the rise, and the extra exertion 

 the fright gave them must have blown the fat old bull 

 a good deal ; indeed, as they slightly altered their course, 

 I could see that his mouth was open, and his tongue 

 hanging out. When they got to the top of the rise they 

 again rather left me, as theii' long-reaching stride carried 

 them down the opposite side, and the succeeding half- 

 mile across the flat left me good for very little — the 

 elands, except the bull, who was evidently rather blown, 

 seemingly being no worse than when they started. I 

 was going very heavily up the next rise, certainly not 

 gaining, rather losing ground, and as we neared the top 

 I felt that the table-like plain which forms the summit 

 of the Big Hill would be too much for me, and I tried to 

 pull up and fire, but I could not make up my mind to lose 

 so much ground a second time, and before I could decide 

 they were over the top, so, with my heart in my mouth. 



