66 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDLi. 



sacrifice one of the inquisitive does to my just wrath, 

 but preferred the chance of a running shot at the buck ; 

 so off I started at a crouching run (somewhat trying to 

 the small of the back) up the bed of the nullah, in the 

 hopes that the buck might have pulled up ere he crossed, 

 and would still afford me a shot. Nor was I mistaken, 

 for, on turning a bend of the tortuous nullah, there he 

 stood, broadside on, in all his magnificence, not eighty 

 yards from my rifle ; but, alas ! who could shoot after a 

 run, almost on all-fours, of some 500 yards or so? 

 When I attempted to bring the fine sight to bear on his 

 shoulder, my hand trembled like an aspen leaf, and the 

 sight described figures of eight all over his body. There 

 was no help for it, however ; he was moving away, and 

 I mio^ht never have such another chance. So, almost in 

 despair, I fired. I was not surprised to see the ball raise 

 the dust a hundred yards or so on his further side, and 

 with a tremendous bound of, I fear to say how many 

 yards, straight in the air, away went the buck like an 

 arrow from the bow. In for a penny, in for a pound ! 

 Once fired at, I might as well have the other shot ; so 

 stepping from my cramped position, I held my breath 

 as I tried to cover his fleeting figure with the second 

 barreL He had gained at least 150 yards ere I touched 

 the trigger, but the ball sped true, and over rolled the 

 buck in a cloud of dust. Short was my triumph, how- 

 ever, for ere I had well taken the rifle from my shoulder 

 he had regained his feet, and was ofl" with hardly 

 diminished speed. It is very rarely that an antelojDe thus 

 suddenly rolled over does not succeed in regaining his 

 legs. Their vital power is immense, and nothing but a 

 brain shot or broken spine will tumble them over for 

 good on the spot. When shot in the heart they gene- 



