A RUSH TO THE BUSI 



of a porter made an attempt to run to my victim, and 

 immediately the band took to flight. I fired three 

 times through the forest at the herd as they galloped. 

 A grand female, hit by a bullet, separated herself 

 from the others. It is a good sign, for an animal 

 slightly wounded scarcely ever separates itself from 

 its companions. With a blow of an assegai I put the 

 male hors de combat ; I leave six men to transport 

 the carcase to camp, and start in pursuit of the wounded 

 one. We find some blood on the track, but an inspec- 

 tion of these gory traces convinces me that my ball 

 had broken the shoulder and not reached the 

 lungs. 



After about an hour I caught sight of the animal, 

 partly concealed by the trees, and I send a projectile 

 which mashes up the fiver. The antelope enters 

 into a thicket, where it plays the following game. 

 The animal flees, concealed by the herbage, and then 

 lies down j I arrive alongside, it rises and flees with- 

 out my being able to fire. But I become excited, 

 for I see all the indications that the beast has not long 

 to five ; its halts become more frequent, its courses 

 less long, the end is near. The wounded beast has 

 quitted the thick covert, where the shrubs rub its 

 wounds and make it suffer cruelly. It has taken 

 refuge in a thicket which I command from the plain 

 where I am. I send men to beat the bush in my direc- 

 tion. The antelope comes forth, and on seeing me, 

 knowing that it is the last act of the drama, puts its 



(31) 



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