CHAP. III. ELAND. 173 



ride on each flank, firing when near enough, and that 

 we should not attempt to do anything more than follow 

 stragglers, or any so severely wounded as to leave the 

 rest, when the after-riders would slowly accompany the 

 herd in our places, until, on nearing the top of the glen, 

 we should urge our horses to their utmost, and, gallop- 

 ing through the herd, attempt to force some, at all 

 events, to retrace their steps, when they would be easily 

 killed. 



Before long, the various groups began to trot up to 

 each other, though after a junction, they would again 

 turn to stare, until, when we were still a quarter of a mile 

 off, they had formed themselves into one compact body, 

 and soon afterwards went away at their accustomed pace ; 

 and we, for the first time galloping our horses, soon took 

 up our respective positions on either flank, and about sixty 

 yards behind, while our boys kept between us. Before 

 starting we had tossed for sides, as shooting from horse- 

 back, at no time very easy work, is rendered all the more 

 difficult if one has to do so from the left-hand side, as 

 whoever was on that flank would have to do. I lost 

 the choice, and in consequence the first half-dozen shots 

 I fired — for both of us commenced as soon as we got close 

 enough — were clean misses ; however, as I had plenty of 

 cartridges and a light rifle, I kept on until the fall of a 

 young bull showed that I got the range. R. had already 

 made some wounded drop out, and though I was too busy 

 to look after him much, I could hear occasional shots 

 some way behind. There were several very fine old bulls, 

 and I did my best to kill one without going too near and 

 making the herd scatter, but I fired five shots at him 



