154 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



the foreground are a small troop of hartebeest ; some 

 still crop the ungenerous herbage, others stand 

 full-fed with drooping heads, lazily flicking off the 

 flies. Perched on a convenient hillock, an old bubal 

 stands rigid on sentry duty. Hard by two bulls 

 drop on their knees and, swinging their foreheads 

 almost to the ground, strike each other's horns with 

 a dry clash. After a few minute's sparring they 

 stand at ease, apparently taking no notice of each 

 other. Suddenly, as by a prearranged signal, they 

 are at it again, and with whisking tails and straining 

 fetlocks strive for the mastery, raising a cloud of 

 dust in the Homeric struggle. A loud snort from 

 the leader ; all the bubal are instantly at gaze, all 

 animosities dropped as the the wiry forms spring 

 smartly to attention. Dim in the distance a band of 

 horsemen has alarmed the sensitive sentinel ; in a 

 moment the entire troop are off at a rocking gallop, 

 striking the earth with all four feet together, and 

 springing with immense bounds like indiarubber 

 toys. The startled bustards rise in the air like 

 automata or squat plover-fashion on the sand ; the 

 gazelles in the acacia brake stamp, snort, run together, 

 and dash off at full speed. Gaining a small 

 elevation, the bubals turn to stare. The horsemen 

 are Roman cavalry returning to their fortress 

 on military duty, not desert archers out after game. 

 Reassured, the antelope stand at ease ; yet those grim 

 warriors are a menace serious indeed, heralding the 



