204 THE HUNTING-LEOPARD. 



eyes. The antelopes being exceedingly timid and 

 wild, the best way to enjoy the sport is to sit on the 

 cart alongside the driver ; for the vehicle being built 

 like the hacheries of the peasants, to the sight of 

 which the deer are accustomed, it is not difficult, by 

 skilful management, to approach within ^00 yards 

 of the game. On this occasion we had three che- 

 tahs in the field, and we proceeded towards the spot 

 where the herd had been seen, in a line with an in- 

 terval of 100 yards between each cart On emer- 

 ging from a cotton field, we came in sight of four an- 

 telopes, and my driver managed to get within 100 

 yards of them, ere they took alarm. The chetah 

 was quickly unhooded and loosed from his bonds ; 

 and as soon as he viewed the deer, he dropped 

 quietly off the cart, on the opposite side to that on 

 which they stood, and approached them at a slow 

 crouching canter, masking himself by every bush and 

 inequality which lay in his way. As soon, however, 

 as they began to shew alarm, he quickened his pace, 

 and was in the midst of them in a few bounds. 



" He singled out a doe, and ran it close for about 

 200 yards, when he reached it with a blow of his 

 paw, rolled it over, and in an instant was sucking 

 the life's-blood from its throat. 



" One of the other chetahs was slipped at the 

 same time, but after making four or five desperate 

 bounds, by which he nearly reached his prey, sud- 

 denly gave up the pursuit, and came growling sulkily 

 back to his cart. 



