168 DIARY OF. A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



risen on his front legs. I must fire I thought. But it was 

 unnecessary. 



Even as the idea presented itself to my mind, and when 

 about to press the trigger the buck suddenly collapsed in a 

 heap. 



" He's dead, sahib, he's dead," panted the orderly, " no 

 need to fire again." 



It was true. When I got up to the antelope he was 

 lying on his side, the black and white of the coat contrast- 

 ing sharply in the brilliant sunlight, whilst the upper horn 

 swept upwards in a wide outward sweep. 



I was overjoyed. The perfect symmetry of the animal 

 was something to marvel at. 



" We should have lost him, havildah, had it not been for 

 that cart. They were uneasy about something." 



" They are often like that, sahib. They are so often 

 startled that they are off at the smallest thing. It is a 

 good head." 



