n6 THE HUNTER'S ARC A. 



on the flat veldt in front except ant-hills (the 

 characteristic marking of this part of the African 

 country) to intervene between me and the quarry 

 I sought after. 



There are few persons who have not seen a 

 drove of turkeys in a farm-yard. How stupid they 

 apparently look, but, at the same time, how con- 

 foundedly cunning they really are ! So it was with 

 these pauw ; for I soon found out that if I did not 

 practise my best stalking skill I should not get 

 within rifle range of them. 



I was, on this occasion, riding an old mare, 

 her recommendation being that she had all the en- 

 dearing characteristics of a dog. Well, I left the 

 old thing to try to stalk the pauw; but no, the 

 birds would not have it, for as quickly as I advanced, 

 as quickly did they retire. At length an extra high 

 ant-hill occurred, and I resolved to make use of 

 it, and, I think, crawled about a hundred yards to 

 do so, when one of the birds got on another ant- 

 hill, telegraphed some kind of message to its 

 comrades, and then all sailed away till far beyond 

 range. 



It was now apparent to me that I was out- 



