176 SUCCESSFUL SHOT. 



tliem, tliougli my friend strongly urged that I should 

 go round to the other side at once. I felt certain 

 that they were going to drink at the river, and 

 concealed myself in a favourable position, as they 

 walked quietly along towards me. They soon formed 

 Indian file, led by the buck, which was the only one 

 among seven. When this handsome animal was mth- 

 in forty yards of me, I raised my rifle and covered his 

 chest ; but as I did so a hand was gently laid on my 

 shoulder, and looking round, I saw the hunter full 

 length on the ground at my back. He motioned to 

 me not to fire, evidently afraid I should miss such a 

 long shot. Just as he did so the buck pulled up, and 

 stood looking straight at the bush behind which I was 

 concealed. The does then came up one by one on 

 either side of him, all their heads erect, and their 

 ears cocked. Seeing I was discovered, or at least 

 suspected, I lost no time in taking a steady aim and 

 firing. The buck fell on the spot, and as the does 

 turned to run I took a shot at the nearest, and evi- 

 dently hit her, for she staggered two or three times as 

 she went away. I soon found blood on her tracks, 

 and the moment this was perceived by my friend he 

 started off on the spoor at racing speed, yelling and 

 shouting like a demon. I left the chase to him and 

 returned to the buck. He was quite dead, and I have 

 seldom seen a handsomer animal for his size. Height 

 at withers three feet one inch ; horns slighly lyrate, 

 and nineteen inches long ; colour bay, belly white, and 

 in beautiful condition. 



While examining him I heard a bang some dis- 

 tance off. This was instantly followed by another 



