and followed : he outpaced me and left me in a few 



strides. 



The koodoo had gone along the right bank of the 



nga which, commencing just below the pool, ex- 

 tended half a mile or more down the flat valley. Jock's 

 rush was magnificent, but it was puzzling, and his 

 direction was even more so ; for he made straight for 

 the donga. 



I ran back for the rifle and followed, and he had 

 already disappeared down the steep bank of the donga 

 when, through the trees on the opposite side, I saw 

 a koodoo cow moving along at a slow cramped walk. 

 The donga was a deep one with perpendicular sides, 

 and in places even overhanging crumbling banks, 

 and I reached it as Jock, slipping and struggling, 

 worked his way up the other wall writhing and climb- 

 ing through the tree roots exposed by the floods. 

 As he rushed out the koodoo saw him and turned ; 

 there was just a chance a second of time : a foot of 

 space before he got in the line of fire ; and I took it. 

 One hind leg gave way, and in the short sidelong 

 stagger that followed Jock jumped at the koodoo's 

 throat and they went down together. 



It took me several minutes to get through the donga, 

 and by that time the koodoo was dead and Jock was 

 standing, wide-mouthed and panting, on guard at 

 its head : the second shot had been enough. 



It was an unexpected and puzzling end ; and, in a 

 way, not a welcome one, as it meant delay in getting 

 back. After the morning's experience there was not 

 much inclination for the skinning and cutting 



328 



