122 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



good motto, for just then I saw the Hottentot hurl 

 his knobkerrie, and a second afterwards caught 

 sight of the pauw going like a racehorse up the 

 donga. Shaking up my mare, I went in hot pursuit ; 

 but, encumbered as I was with the other birds, I found 

 that I should be nowhere in the chase in the rough 

 ground till I disencumbered myself. So I threw 

 them and my rifle to the darkie, and received in 

 exchange his knobkerrie, and thus armed, resolved 

 to go in and win. The mare was in good condi- 

 tion, keen for a run, and handy as a polo pony, 

 so I had little or no doubt of the result. 



I know men who have told me they have ridden 

 down an ostrich. I can only say I have several 

 times seen it tried, but never successfully. To catch a 

 wounded pauw on horseback is quite work enough for 

 me. I will not for a moment infer that the mare 

 had not the heels of the bird, but I defy any horse 

 living to have kept alongside of it, from the rapidity 

 with which it turned. Moreover, each of these 

 turns was so ingeniously made as to place me upon 

 the wrong side of my prey for striking. Thus, 

 after two miles of most exasperating and disap- 



