PLAIN ASTIR WITH GAME. 



219 



hartebeest, about two hundred and fifty yards 

 away. The grand koodoos were all at the far side 

 of the plain, and standing still. The sun was just 

 setting, and knowing^ how short the twilight is here, 

 I resolved to try and get a shot at the hartebeest. 

 My young guide was much pleased and excited 

 at his success; and now it remained for me to 

 prove myself up to the mark. There were no ant- 

 hills here, nor cover of any kind under which 1 could 

 attempt to approach these wary animals, I waited 

 for ten minutes, during which time they had been 

 quietly but steadily lessening the distance between us. 

 At last it was getting so dark I determined to delay 

 no longer, but taking a steady aim at the largest buck 

 in the herd, as he just then offered a favourable shot, 

 I fired, and the whole herd bolted. I fired my se- 

 cond barrel as they fled, but observed no effect from 

 either shot, except that in an instant the plain was 

 astir from end to end. In every direction were to be 

 seen herds of flying antelopes, some bounding high 

 in the air as they sought the cover of the adjacent 

 jungle, others either galloping over the ground like 

 racehorses, or with the slow, heavy stride of the larger 

 animals bringing up the rear of the terror-stricken 

 squadrons. I had long taken my eye off the herd at 

 which I had fired, and scarcely knew in which direc- 

 tion they had gone, when my little guide surprised 

 me by jumping and shouting, while at the same time 

 he pointed away to our left front, and started with a 

 quick run in that direction. I followed him, and for 

 the first hundi^ed yards had much difficulty in keeping 

 up with him ; but then the youngster, who was very 



