252 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



morning was a glorious one and the scenery most 

 attractive, just such a combination of circumstances 

 as makes the pedestrian step out with such hearty 

 will, and elasticity as to get him over the ground at 

 a surprising pace. About half-past ten, when the 

 heat was becoming perceptibly unpleasant, the 

 Mashoona pointed out a black object under a tree, 

 which at first I supposed to be a buffalo, but soon 

 after learned was a "blue vildebeest." The distance 

 that the game was from me did not exceed four 

 hundred yards, but to reduce that space and get to 

 leeward of it required a dttour of considerable ex- 

 tent. With due patience and ingenuity I made this 

 circular advance, but when half executed, while I 

 was wriggling myself over rather an exposed piece 

 of ground, I all but placed my hand upon a puff 

 adder. This contretemps disconcerted me, but not 

 sufficiently to cause me to forget the object I had in 

 view, so on I went till I thought I must be within 

 suitable range. I had not only judged distance in- 

 correctly but discovered that there was a kloof 

 between me, and my prey of broken trap rock. 

 To the edge of this I approached ; the shot would be 

 a long one, but I had been successful on many occa- 

 sions at greater range, so I resolved to try. While 

 giving the back-sight sufficient elevation, a clatter, 

 as if produced by a dozen wild horses galloping, 

 rose from the hollow beneath, and to my surprise, 

 I found that the disturbance was caused by about a 



