26o Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



more than a quarter of an hour. They took a 

 circular course, and as we occupied the inside of 

 the circle, both Lee and I obtained half-a-dozen 

 good shots each. Alas ! we both shot very badly, 

 not one was brought down, but I expect an 

 ostrich going full tilt is not an easy object to hit. 

 Galloping after the ostrich, my horse, putting his 

 foot in a hole, came heavily to the ground. I did 

 not lose my seat, but lost my ]4fle, which was 

 thrown some yards away. Tliis incident caused 

 delay, and allowed the ostrich to get too far from 

 us, so we abandoned the chase, chagrined at our 

 bad shooting and at not having secured the cock 

 bird, which was in fine plumage. The appear- 

 ance, however, of these great l)irds skimming 

 along over the plain Avith their somewhat grotesque 

 action had been very pleasant and exciting. While 

 we were dismounted, watching the disappearing 

 ostrich tlirough a telescope, three sable antelope 

 approached us and stood looking, aljout 400 }'ards 

 away. They seemed to be aware that we had no 

 intention of molesting them, for tliey kept near us 

 for some time after Ave had mounted and Avei'c 

 riding along, showing no signs of alarm even Avlien 

 they had our Avind. The day Avas very hot, and I 

 liaA^e noticed that at mid-day, AAdien the heat is 

 great, and Avhen there is little wind, the antelope 

 are often singularly tame. Xoav again, being on 

 an eminence, we spied the plain, the sable antelope 

 also spying us close by. To our joy the elands 

 Avere made out grazing along the edge of some 

 bush about a mile oil". The herd Avas sloAvly 



