356 LAKGE GAME. CHAP. vn. 



or ant-eater holes. Before long, too, my horse, which had 

 had plenty of similar experiences, and knew the value of 

 saving himself as well as I did, settled into a steady 

 gallop, so that I could drop the reins on his neck, and if 

 necessary guide him by the pressure of my knees alone. 

 A horse thoroughly well trained to this kind of work 

 should require no guidance whatever from the reins ; 

 should, indeed, put its rider alongside of the game of its 

 own accord, while it should render implicit obedience to 

 the slightest pressure of the knee, wheeling round so long 

 as it can feel it, and should also be taught to stop dead on 

 the spot when informed by a pinch on the withers that its 

 rider wishes it to do so. A good horse will not only do 

 all this, but will carry you alongside of elephants and 

 other dangerous game, and will sheer off of itself in the 

 nick of time the instant a charge is made. Much of the 

 pleasure of this kind of sport, which can, however, bear 

 no comparison with shooting on foot, lies in watching the 

 instinct with which your horse will work, it asking no 

 more than that you should retain your seat not always 

 an easy matter during the sudden swerves it makes to 

 escape danger, and that you should fire at the proper 

 time, in order that it may enable you to overcome any 

 game that you may show it, and which it possesses speed 

 enough to overtake. 



I had noticed one of the mounted Kaffirs galloping 

 across the line of the hartebeest when we first started, 

 but he had shortly afterwards disappeared, and in the 

 excitement of the moment he had passed from my mind ; 

 but now, on seeing the herd suddenly swerve, and make 

 a rush, at the same time altering their course, I was sur- 



