A WOUNDED POTAQUAINE. 213 



looked likely for light rain. At an early hour I left 

 my wagons with some provisions, and ascended the 

 mountain to the northeast to seek sable antelope. Soon 

 after gaining the upper heights of the mountain I had 

 the satisfaction to detect a fine herd of these feeding 

 among the trees on the table summit of a ridge of the 

 mountain, which stretched away to the east. I de- 

 termined to stalk them in true Highland fashion, and 

 to use my very best endeavors to insure success ; ac- 

 cordingly, having surveyed the ground, I made a cast 

 to leeward, and approached the herd upon my belly. 

 When I got within two hundred yards of them, I found 

 it was impossible to approach nearer on that side, so 1 

 was obliged to creep away back again, and try to come 

 upon them from another quarter. When next I crept 

 in the herd had vanished, and I could not find them for 

 some time. At length, however, I came suddenly upon 

 them, when the herd rushed in a semicircle round me. 

 I ran forward as hard as I could, and, pulling suddenly 

 up, fired at the big black buck as he dashed past me 

 at top speed ; the ball told loudly, and the buck bent 

 up his back to the shot. 



They now charged for the southern ridge of the 

 mountain, and disappeared over it at a tremendous 

 pace. I quickly loaded, and proceeded to take up the 

 spoor, and at once had the satisfaction to find great 

 spouts of blood all along the spoor of the patriarchal old 

 black buck. This gave me high hopes of success ; I 

 waited a few minutes, and whistled for the Bechuanas, 

 who immediately came up to me with " Bles" and " Af- 

 friar," two right good dogs. When the wounded buck 

 had proceeded a short distance down the mountain's 

 face, lie l£ft the herd and slanted away by himself In 

 a few minutes, however, I espied hir • ho .-tood about 



