280 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



them, so I determined to try her against the speed 

 of this well-known fast animal. At first the mare 

 did not appear to like her work, the smell that the 

 carrion feeders exuded no doubt being the reason ; 

 but when she felt a gentle reminder from my spurs 

 that I was master and determined that she should 

 do my bidding and her utmost, she settled down 

 to the work demanded without further remonstrance 

 than two or three angry shakes of the head. For 

 the first three or four hundred yards it seemed to 

 me to be even betting as to who had the best of 

 the race ; but when I gathered my mount together, 

 leaned over her withers and gave a war-whoop of 

 encouragement to her, and of intimidation to the 

 enemy, the willing little beauty appeared to imbibe 

 a fresh addition of speed and fairly to fly with me. 



There was no mistake now who had the best of 

 the pace, and evidently the hyenas were aw r are of 

 it, for they at once separated, the larger going to 

 the right and the lesser to the left. To the first 

 I devoted my attention, and, after a good quarter 

 of a mile, was within twenty yards of his tail, and 

 I felt convinced, from his wobbling gait, that he was 

 sadly blown, the rotundity of his stomach evincing 



