CHAP. III. ELAND. 161 



I found them on the spot described — a bare open — 

 and on seeing me they at once broke away at a trot, but 

 in a few seconds pulled up again to have another look 

 and allowed me to get within one hundred and fifty yards 

 of where they were standing. I fired at the nearest, a cow, 

 for there was not a bull among them, and hit her hard, 

 causing her to run alone for some little distance, though 

 she ultimately rejoined the rest. I then gave chase as 

 fast as I could, and owing to the slow pace of the wounded 

 one, which they would not desert, another five minutes 

 took me within easy shot, when finding a large heifer 

 between me and my cow, I fired at the former, smashing 

 the leg high up, upon which she broke into a gallop and 

 went on with my dog at her heels, while the cow, utterly 

 done, pulled up and stood within a few yards of me. I 

 now discovered that I had left my big bullet-pouch with 

 the Kafiirs, and that my small one contained nothing but 

 the bullet which had killed the last eland, and which I 

 had cut out. This I managed to ram down with con- 

 siderable difficulty, and then went after the heifer, it 

 being evident that the cow could not make its escape, 

 and guided by the dog's barking I soon reached the 

 troop, which were evidently waitmg for the wounded one 

 and which absolutely allowed me to come within twenty 

 yards before they made off". Unfortunately the heifer 

 was standing so that I could not see her, and I had to run 

 on after them, waiting for an opportunity. 



In all my life I never saw so many magnificent chances 

 as crowded themselves into that quarter of an hour. The 

 wounded one several times halted, and the rest, in waitiQg 

 for her, allowed me to come within a few paces before 



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