A SUCCESSFUL MANOEUVRE 169 



The herd inclined its course still more to the 

 eastward, but Hendrick had too much of a 

 start for that to matter ; he had, so far, the hunt 

 completely in hand. Should the oryx have 

 adhered to the course they started on, they 

 would soon have been in a dilemma : that of 

 having to choose between passing Hendrick 

 at close quarters and running down the wind. 

 So the inevitable alteration in their course was 

 now only a matter of seconds. Ha ! they 

 swerved ; they were now heading for the opening 

 between Andries, whom, being behind the end 

 of the ridge, they could not see, and myself. 

 This was precisely what we had been manoeuv- 

 ring for. 



I let Prince out and galloped towards the 

 advancing herd, pressing it gently away from 

 the wind. Were I to have pressed the oryx 

 too hard, they would have again swerved to 

 their right and rushed for the opening between 

 Hendrick and me. This would have suited 

 me, personally, well enough, but would have 

 spoilt Andries' chance. On they came — the 

 full-grown bulls, about thirty of them — lead- 

 ing in a close phalanx. Then came the cows; 

 behind these the fawns. I trended slightly to 

 my right and gave Prince a looser rein. I had 

 the herd fully in hand at about five hundred 



