HUNTING IN THE SOTIK 179 



mens that he was obliged to spend most of his time helping 

 Heller; and they pressed into the work at times even Tarl- 

 ton. Accordingly Kermit and I generally went off by our- 

 selves, either together or separately. Once however Kermit 

 went with Tarlton, and was as usual lucky with cheetahs, 

 killing two. Tarlton was an accomplished elephant, buf- 

 falo, and rhino hunter, but he preferred the chase of the lion 

 to all other kinds of sport; and if lions were not to be found 

 he liked to follow anything else he could gallop on horse- 

 back. Kermit was also a good and hard rider. On this 

 occasion they found a herd of eland, and galloped into it. 

 The big bull they overhauled at once, but saw that his 

 horns were poor and left him. Then they followed a fine 

 cow with an unusually good head. She started at a rattling 

 pace, and once leaped clear over another cow that got in 

 her way; but they rode into her after a mile's smart gallop 

 not a racing gallop by any means and after that she 

 was as manageable as a tame ox. Cantering and trotting 

 within thirty yards of her on either quarter they drove 

 her toward camp; but when it was still three-quarters of 

 a mile distant they put up a cheetah, and tore after it; and 

 they overtook and killed it just before it .reached cover. A 

 cheetah with a good start can only be overtaken by hard 

 running. This one behaved just as did the others they 

 ran down. For quarter of a mile no animal in the world 

 has a cheetah's speed; but he cannot last. When chased 

 the cheetahs did not sprint, but contented themselves with 

 galloping ahead of the horses; at first they could easily 

 keep their distance, but after a mile or two their strength 

 and wind gave out, and then they always crouched flat to 

 the earth, and were shot without their making any attempt 



