224 Men, Ml NTEs, AND Animals in South Africa. 



lowed the herd. We now thought that we would 

 o-et a good chase, for we had followed them hard for 

 a mile, and the buck were getting blown. Unfortu- 

 nately, they made for a spruit, with high banks 

 and a muddv bottom, and, while we were search- 

 ino- for a place to cross the stream, escaped awav 

 out of our sight. Sir John Willoughby wounded 

 one badly as the herd galloped down to the spruit, 

 and on the other side we found a very bloody 

 spoor, which was followed up for some distance 

 fruitlessly. Then, returning to look for the animal 

 which both Lee and I had hit so hard, we found 

 the place where ho had fallen, but of the antelojDe 

 not a sio-n. Two natives, who had been following 

 us at a distance all day, came up and promised to 

 spoor the wounded beast, and to bring the horns, 

 which were very fine, into camp. This, however, 

 they lulled to do. I think if Lee had himself 

 spoored the animal we should certainly soon have 

 got him ; but the day was hot, the horses tired, 

 the camp near, and all seemed to make an imme- 

 diate dinner necessary. On our way to camp, after 

 covering up the first antelope shot, ^Ye saw more 

 hartebeest, l^ut had had enough of chasing for that 

 day. 



On the following morning we moved our camp 

 ten miles further on towards the locality we were 

 aiming at. We outspanned under a large and 

 loftv mao;undi tree. This tree has at this season 

 of the year leaves of the most vivid green, con- 

 trasting sharply with the prevailing Avinter hues, 

 and gives a welcome shade. Daring our morning 



