A SABLE ANTELOPE BAGGED. 91 



der of a rocky and well- wooded mountain on the op- 

 posite side of the ravine, I detected a fourth sable an- 

 telope, a fine old buck. I rode into the deep ravine, 

 and, having secured the steeds, I stripped to my shirt, 

 and ascended the bold face to stalk him. 



I held for a little to leeward of where I had marked 

 him ; the Bushman followed with Boxer on a string. 

 When I gained the summit I proceeded with extreme 

 caution, and at length beheld him through tlie trees 

 within a hundred yards of me ; I crept about ten yards 

 nearer, and then lay till he should move ; this he pres- 

 ently did. He walked obligingly forward, and stood 

 broadside in all his glory, with his magnificent cimeter- 

 shaped horns sweeping back over his haunches. I fired. 

 The ball broke his fore leg in the shoulder, and he 

 dropped on his face, but, recovering himself, gained his 

 legs, and limped slowly over the ridge. Boxer imme- 

 diately appeared, and was beside me just as I peeped over 

 the ridge, and beheld the wounded buck looking back 

 within fifty yards of me. On seeing Boxer he turned 

 about, and as he turned I sent my second ball through 

 his ribs. He then disappeared, and stumbled down the 

 rocky mountain side, with Boxer at his heels. I fol- 

 lowed as fast as could be, and found him half way down 

 the mountain, sitting on his haunches at bay, whera I 

 finished him with a shot in the heart. This was a 

 magnificent sable antelope in the prime of life; he was 

 very fat, and the flesh was excellent. 



On the 28th I rode through tlie hills in quest of pota- 

 quaine, and went over a deal of rough ground on foot, 

 and saw spoor, but no potaquaine. In the evening I 

 took some bedding up the glen, and slept there. 



I had lain in great pain all night, and in the morning 

 of the 29th I found myself attacked with acute rheu- 



