ANTELOPE. 203 



which, though mortally wounded, ran off to greater or 

 less distances. Leaving the dead we went at once after 

 the wounded, securing, after some little time and trouble, 

 all but one. When we got near the place where he had 

 been last seen we started a pack of six or eight wolves, and, 

 going to the spot, found our antelope, its throat lacerated, 

 its hamstrings cut, its flanks torn open, and half the viscera 

 already devoured. 



With a good pack of greyhounds, and in a good run- 

 ning country, where antelope are not too numerous, splen- 

 did sport may be had in coursing them. Many portions 

 of the plains, apparently good running ground, are covered 

 with beds of cactus, growing low, but very thick, which 

 are scarcely noticeable until one is among them. The 

 antelope instinctively takes to these when pursued by dogs, 

 passing over them unscathed, while the hounds, if not 

 stopped at once, as is frequently the case, are sure to be 

 lame, possibly for weeks. If there are many antelope the 

 hounds become scattered in pursuit and are liable to be 

 lost, the effort is a failure, and the game escapes. 



I have never yet seen a single greyhound pull down 

 an unwounded antelope. I have heard of plenty of 

 owners of such dogs say that this dog could and would 

 do it ; but, when I have gone out to see, something has 

 always happened to prevent the dog's execution of the 

 feat on that particular occasion. 



A very fleet, powerful, favourite pointer of mine once 

 caught and killed an unwounded antelope. There was a 

 little snow on the ground, and the weather was very cold. 

 I have always believed that the antelope slipped and 

 strained himself on the icy ground, so that he could not 

 do justice to his natural fleetness. As it was, that one 

 success nearly ruined the finest antelope dog I ever 

 saw. He ever after believed himself able to catch ante- 

 lope, even though unwounded, and was constantly ' trying 



