171 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CIIAP. 



of level ground, as smooth as u billiard table ; only two or three 

 trees occupied this large area, and they were unhealthy specimens, 

 which looked as though periodical inundations had disagreed with 

 them. We arrived upou this great natural race-course, and the 

 binoculars were at once in request to scan the distant surface in 

 search of the desired game. In a short time, as we advanced 

 leisurely, constantly halting to take an observation, we discovered 

 a considerable herd of about thirty or forty antelopes, among which 

 there were two bucks perfectly black ; these were feeding upon 

 the short young grass in the very centre of the open ground. The 

 question arose, " How in the world shall we get near them ? " It 

 was determined that our three horses should as much as possible 

 conceal themselves on the right side of the three carts, and that 

 they should attempt the approach by moving in a circle, getting 

 nearer and nearer to the herd, as the black -buck family might 

 become less shy, and more accustomed to the appearance of the 

 carts. This plan was cleverly carried out by the drivers, and in 

 about twenty minutes we had, by circling and alternately advanc- 

 ing direct, got to within 300 yards' distance. The herd was all 

 together, as several times they had stopped feeding to gaze at our 

 party, after which they had trotted off a little distance, and then 

 closed up, as though for mutual protection, which gave confidence. 

 We again halted, to try the effect upon the herd. They merely 

 looked up, and for the moment ceased feeding, but almost immedi- 

 ately one of the bucks made an unprovoked attack upon the other, 

 apparently with the intention of driving it away from the females. 

 Instead of retreating from the insult, the affronted buck at once 

 returned to the encounter, and a tremendous fight was the 

 immediate result, the two combatants charging each other like 

 rams, and boring, first one, then the other backward, with the 

 greatest fury. During this duel the herd of females stood 

 entranced, as admiring spectators of the struggle. 



Not so our drivers, who, instead of their hitherto wary tactics, 

 now prodded their bullocks with the sharp -pointed sticks, and 

 drove at full trot straight towards the combatants. In this 

 manner we gained a position within half a minute that we should 

 perhaps never have obtained had the bucks remained in peaceful 

 tempers ; the females perceived the danger of our approach, and 

 they started off, leaping in their usual manner many feet in the 

 air perpendicularly at every bound, leaving the two stupid males in 

 the ecstasy of a mortal struggle. 



We reached a position within about 120 yards before the two 

 fools observed us. They at once left off fighting, and having 



