THE TREK SEASON 243 



great migratory army and apparently num- 

 bered from eight to nine thousand head. 



We remounted and cantered along close 

 to the base of the dune until we were abreast 

 of the centre of the herd — only the dune 

 separating us from it. Here Andries re- 

 mained, while I rode on for about half a mile 

 further. This brought me to a spot just ahead 

 of the foremost of the game. It had been 

 agreed that when I reached this spot Andries 

 would cross the dune and open his attack. As 

 soon as the herd was on the move, I would 

 begin mine. 



I dismounted, tied old Prince to a shrub, 

 climbed the dune and laid myself flat on the 

 top. Just to my left were the springbuck, 

 grazing quietly and utterly unsuspicious of 

 danger. They appeared to be all rams. This 

 we expected, for most of the rams congregate 

 in separate herds in the trek season. Some 

 were grazing within less than two hundred 

 yards of me. 



When Andries' rifle spoke a thrill ran 

 through the multitude. Looking to the left 

 I saw the bucks beginning to stream in my 

 direction, but the impulse had not yet been 

 communicated to those at my end of the herd. 

 Rythmically the impetus of flight developed 



