236 



THE HUNTERS ARCADIA. 



graceful, and fleet as you are, poor koodoo, yoi 

 merits can scarcely save you from destruction. 

 No, far from that, they only increase the desire of the 

 pursuer to be your destroyer ; so I creep from stone 

 to stone, from rock to rock, at one time walking with 

 almost broken back, the next minute crawling along 

 the ground like an animal that revels in the mire, 

 till at length a boulder is reached that stands erect 

 upon a crest that overlooks many a hundred yards 

 of the intervening country. 



Yester-afternoon it was w T ith me a case of bellow r s 

 to mend when I came within shot of this glorious 

 game. No such misfortune is the matter with 

 my frail carcase this brilliant, glorious morning, for 

 now the panting, exhausted man is replaced by one 

 who stalks with the silence and stealth of the Indian, 

 resolved that no mortal ailments shall prevent his 

 unerring rifle doing its duty. From behind the 

 giant boulder I long, anxiously, and disappointed 

 gaze. Not a vestige of animal life is before me. 

 Again and again I survey the ground in front of 

 me, and, to my disgust, nothing animate can be 

 discovered. I am dreaming, or must be in a trance, 

 or my eyes, that have never deceived me before, 



