xxi AFRICAN ANTELOPES 349 



invisible, and the wind was in our favour ; probably some bird, 

 frightened at our advance, had flown hurriedly away, this would 

 have been sufficient as a signal of hidden danger. 



We now threw off disguise, and walked direct towards the 

 raised spot upon which the watchful tdtel had taken its stand. 

 There was a pile of droppings, of all dates, which proved that this 

 was its daily resting-place in the middle of the green patch, that 

 was regularly visited by the herd. While I was examining the 

 signs, I observed my companion Shooli searching diligently among 

 the young herbage, and he assured me that a calf must be concealed 

 somewhere near, as the doe would not have appeared alone unless 

 she had a young one lying hidden, which she had intended to suckle 

 if undisturbed. 



Presently I saw him standing with his spear raised, aiming at 

 something upon the ground. Upon approaching him, he asked if 

 he should throw his spear ; but before I could reply, a calf that 

 had been lying close, like a hare in form, sprang up and raced 

 away at great speed. In an instant the spear flew from the up- 

 raised hand, and striking the calf, it passed just beneath the skin 

 of the back without injuring the bone, and penetrated through to 

 half its length, thus impaling the poor little animal transversely. 



Even with such an impediment, the strong young calf managed 

 to get along, until at length it was captured by the active native. 



He now withdrew the spear and asked whether he should carry 

 it alive to camp. At the same time the calf, wounded and terrified, 

 screamed loudly; this noise appeared to give Shooli a sudden 

 inspiration. Telling me to kneel down, he beat the calf with his 

 open hand, which made it repeat its cry of distress. In a few 

 moments we heard a rush among the high grass, and as the cries 

 of the calf continued, I saw a number of horns and heads appearing 

 above the yellow grass, as the herd, leaping as they galloped, 

 endeavoured to see the cause of the disturbance. 



In less time than it takes to describe the scene, some ten or 

 eleven of these large animals frantically rushed into the open and 

 charged direct upon Shooli, who was kneeling with his arms around 

 the calf. I fired right and left within 20 yards, knocking over 

 the leader upon the spot, and turning the herd, another of which 

 floundered upon its side after running a few yards. I reloaded 

 quickly, and fired another shot as they disappeared, like fish in 

 water, among the tall herbage from which they had made their 

 gallant attempt to save the calf from danger. Shooli assured me 

 that had he been alone, the herd would certainly have knocked 

 him over, and have rescued the calf. 



