A SPLENDID RUN. 149 



a couple of old-country hunting cheers. At first the 

 hounds gained rapidly on their game, and I expected 

 every moment to see Bob pin it by the ear, when he put 

 his foot in a meercat hole, and completed two or three 

 somersaults before he could pick himself up. Poor 

 fellow ! he had no heart or power to go farther ; for, on 

 three legs, with a woeful countenance he came to my 

 side. In the meantime Bonte was making a famous 

 race of it several times I expected to see him lay hold ; 

 once he did spring at the quarry's ear, but it artfully 

 avoided the attack. Twice more the buck was com- 

 pelled to turn to avoid being pinned; but the pace 

 commenced to tell ; the antelope was in condition and 

 the dog was not ; so, willing in spirit but weak of body, 

 he had to give up the chase ; and a splendid run it was, 

 although there was no death at the finish. 



But now I have time to examine poor Bob, who has 

 enjoyed looking at the run quite as much as myself. 

 " Wo, old man, wo !" for know, gentle reader, that he 

 is a queer-tempered beast " there, that will do ; your 

 shoulder is not out of joint as I expected, but you are 

 badly shaken; yes, old man" why, surly Bob has 

 actually licked my hand after putting him to so much 

 pain. 



By the time I was mounted and ready to go on, 

 Bonte came up, looking rather shame-facey, as the 

 Chinamen say, still showing from his outstretched 

 tongue and quivering limbs how hard he had tried to 

 do his best. 



Why did I miss my shot ? I hear asked. I incor- 

 rectly judged the distance, believing the spring-buck 

 to be farther off than it was. In Africa it is cur- 

 rently believed that you more frequently undershoot 



