92 LARGE GAME. CHAP. n. 



this tree, and having disposed the great cabbage-like 

 leaves, from which it takes its name, so as to conceal me, 

 I quietly waited. 



In half an hour there was a rustle beside me, and a 

 little duiker antelope, its grey skin shining like silver in 

 the rays of the setting sun, stole down, and after gazing 

 round it for a few seconds, stooped to drink, the reflection 

 of its head and tiny horns being quite plain on the surface 

 of the dark still pool, and then silently retired. A few 

 minutes after another appeared on the opposite bank, 

 followed by two more, and having satisfied their thirst, 

 returned to nibble the young shoots of grass in the glades 

 among the thickets where they lived. The next to arrive 

 were a pair of reed buck, mother and calf, which had no 

 doubt been lying in the long rank grass in the " vlei" beyond, 

 and which, like ah 1 the smaller species of antelopes which 

 inhabit the thorn jungles in common with the coast flats 

 and the timber forests, were not nearly as large as those 

 found in the latter places. The bush partridge, a species 

 of francolin, had for some time been uttering their grating 

 cry among the surrounding bushes, and now made their 

 appearance to drink, while dozens of partridges of other 

 kinds, mingled with turtle-doves and paroquets, and the 

 little long-tailed pigeon, alighted on all sides, attracted 

 by the common want. 



Suddenly a commotion among them heralded the 

 approach of something larger, though my duller organs 

 had not as yet detected any sound ; and in a few minutes 

 a herd of koodoo walked up to the top of the bank and 

 stood, scanning the ground previous to descending, for 

 any sign of lurking danger. At last an old doe, as I 



