PATIENCE REWARDED. 119 



This was enough ; the antelopes simultaneously closed 

 into a bunch, and with every sense strained looked 

 eagerly around for the cause of alarm. A closer stalk 

 was impossible, the movement of a mouse could not 

 escape their notice ; so, springing on one knee, I pulled 

 both triggers almost simultaneously, taking sight for 

 the nearest of the ruck. As the smoke lifted, with 

 satisfaction I beheld two victims, one apparently dead, 

 the other making violent efforts to get upon his pins, 

 while the remainder of the drove were scampering 

 across the prairie at such a pace as these animals only 

 are capable of going. As quickly as possible I reloaded 

 my gun, and on advancing to bleed my victims, the 

 wounded buck got his legs under him, and had I not 

 given him the right barrel, a nice clean shot at fifty 

 yards tumbling him all of a heap, I should have been 

 left with only a single prize. 



After bleeding my trophies, I went after Broomstick, 

 who, like all perverse beasts, had grazed off at as rapid 

 a pace as possible, in exactly the reverse direction to that 

 wanted. Oh, Broomstick, you provoking brute ! was 

 ever an unfortunate sportsman so tortured by having to 

 endure the vagaries of so ugly and obstinate a steed ! 

 Venting my indignation on his sparsely-covered ribs, 

 and giving him every second stride a reminder that his 

 owner was on his back, I hurried back to my quarry, 

 in the hope of making camp at an early hour, and 

 having a good fire before my comrades returned. Nor 

 was I too soon, for already a coyotte had scented 

 blood, and was about to whet his sharp tusks on the 

 results of my labour. With considerable hoisting, 

 and not until I had blindfolded my mount, I got both 

 antelopes on my nag's back, where I lashed them 



