ADVENTURE WITH BLESBOKS. 2f>5 



o breathe the fresh air of the countf^. We got clear of Colesberg 

 at about 9 A.M., and commenced our march over the country 1 

 had so often marked with my wheel-tracks, and which my reader 

 must now be fully acquainted with. On my way I completely 

 recruited my oxen and stud, and prepared myself to take the field 

 with an immense pack of stout serviceable dogs. I also engaged 

 as after-rider a Bushman named Booi. 



The game became plentiful in about ten days after we left Coles- 

 berg, but when we came to the Vet River I beheld with astonish- 

 ment and delight decidedly one of the most wonderful displays 

 which I had witnessed during my varied sporting career in 

 Southern Africa. On my right and left the plain exhibited or? 

 purple mass of graceful blesboks, which extended without a break 

 as far as my eyes could strain: the depth of their vast legions 

 covered a breadth of about six hundred yards. On pressing upon 

 them, they cantered along before me, not exhibiting much alarm, 

 taking care, however, not to allow me to ride within at least four 

 hundred yards of them. On, on I rode, intensely excited with the 

 wondrous scene before me, and hoped at length to get to wind- 

 ward of at least some portion of the endless living mass which 

 darkened the plain, but in vain. Like squadrons of dragoons, 

 the entire breadth of this countless herd held on their forward course 

 as if aware of my intention, and resolved not to allow me to 

 weather them. 



At length I determined to play upon their ranks s and, pressing 

 my horse to his utmost speed, dashed forward, and, suddenly 

 halting, sprang from the saddle, and, giving my rifle at least two 

 feet of elevation, fired right and left into one of their darkest masses. 

 A noble buck dropped to the right barrel, and the second shot 

 told loudly ; no buck, however, fell, and after lying for half a 

 minute the prostrate blesbok rose, and was quickly los 1 sight of 

 among his retreating comrades. In half a minute I was again 

 loaded, and after galloping a few hun'dred yards, let drive into 

 them, but was still unsuccessful. Excited and annoyed at my 

 want of luck, I resolved to follow them up, and blaze away while 

 a shot remained in the locker, which I did ; until, after riding 



