JOCK had learned one very clever trick in pulling 

 down wounded animals. It often happens when you 

 come unexpectedly upon game that they are off 

 " before you see them, and the only chance you have 

 of getting anything is with a running shot. If they go 

 straight from you the shot is not a very difficult one, 

 although you see nothing but the lifting and falling 

 hind-quarters as they canter away ; and a common 

 result of such a shot is the breaking of one of the hind- 

 legs between the hip and the hock. Jock made his 

 discovery while following a rietbuck which I had 

 wounded in this way. He had made several tries at 

 its nose and throat, but the buck was going too strongly 

 and was out of reach ; moreover it would not stop 

 or turn when he headed it, but charged straight on, 

 bounding over him. In trying once more for the 

 throat he cannoned against the buck's shoulder and 



1 80 



