ROAN ANTELOPES 289 



In the evening I took my heavy single-barreled rifle 

 and sauntered toward the fountain A. large herd of 

 blue wildebeests were slowly advancing up the vley to 

 drink. I accordingly took up a position behind a low 

 bush near which they must pass, and lay flat on the 

 ground, waiting their approach. Presently I raised 

 my head to see how they were coming on, when I per- 

 ceived a pair of the rare and beautiful roan antelope 

 or bastard gemsbok warily approaching the fountain. 

 These came up, and were passing within a hundred 

 and twenty yards of me, when^ selecting the buck, I 

 let fly, and missed. The whole herd of wildebeests 

 now wheeled to the right-about, and thundered down 

 the vley, enveloped in a cloud of dust ; but the two 

 roan antelopes, which had probably never before heard 

 the report of a gun, stood looking about them, while I 

 hastily loaded, lying flat on my side. This being ac- 

 complished, I again let fly, and the old buck dropped 

 to the shot; the ball had entered his shoulder, and he 

 lay kicking and roaring until I had almost reloaded, 

 when he regained his feet and made ofl" after his com- 

 rade. At this moment "Ai'gyll" and "Bonteberg," 

 two right good dogs, came up, having heard the shots, 

 and, perceiving the bastard gemboks, they gave chase. 

 To my surprise, the wounded buck, instead of turning 

 to bay, now set off" at a rapid pace. He had not gone 

 far, however, when he turned, and stood at bay for about 

 a minute. Two or three more of the dogs heard their 

 comrades barking, and came up to the buck, which 

 then broke bay and made ofl" through the bushes, and 

 in another moment all was still. It was now almost 

 dark, and I followed in the direction which the buck 

 had held, when suddenly I heard a rushing noise, and 

 in another instant the wounded buck met me face to 



Vol. I.— N 



