SPRINGBOK SHOOTING. 227 



several others, would spring sheer and straight 

 from its four feet, with arched back, ten or twelve 

 feet into the air, as if made of india-rubber ; this 

 leap would be repeated half-a-dozen times or more, 

 and then the animals would settle to a canter, and 

 thence into a gallop. While these marvellous 

 bounds are being executed, the springboks erect 

 the curious mass of long snow-white hair, which 

 extends from about the middle of the back as far 

 as the tail, imparting a most singular effect. When 

 the animal is not excited or alarmed, this hackle or 

 ruff lies closely to the back, and is almost enveloped 

 in the loose fawn-coloured skin which closes over 

 it. Finally, the whole herd galloped away to a 

 distant part of the veldt, long before we were near 

 them. Disappointed in this direction, we turned 

 our attention to a herd some distance to our right, 

 and again attempted a drive, and this time with 

 more success. This herd, some two hundred in 

 number, allowed us to approach within seven 

 hundred yards, and then H., who was on the 

 extreme right, and had managed to creep outside 

 and a little beyond them, suddenly began to gallop 

 his hardest towards the game. 



This was the signal for ourselves as well as the 

 springbok. It is a well-ascertained fact, that the 

 springbok, when pursued, will generally take up 

 wind, and making for a certain point, they never 

 swerve from their line. Immediately, therefore, we 

 other three on the inside saw the antelopes crossing 

 up-wind obliquely across our front, we set spurs to 

 our nags, and raced our hardest to cut them off, or, 

 at all events, a portion of them. Five minutes' 

 desperate galloping across the rough veldt brought 



