34 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



creature became at. once .conscious of the vicinity 

 of enemies, but its strength ;-;w.oulcL* riot; allow it to 

 rise, "although inany: and: numerous" were the efforts 

 it made to do so: - 'It- was: a: cruel 'sight to look 

 at, -the -noble, : fleet ,: graceful- and beautifully marked 

 creature: thus : 'disabled; " and _ 'I am; not: ashamed to 

 say that' I felt -grieved at the ipart I had played in 

 making it so. 'The deed 'I : had committed could 

 not^now be -undone, -and to put the victim as soon 

 . as "possible" out of pain' was a duty, so I ordered 

 my. attendants- to .come .up, that they might deliver 

 the ;~cottp-de-grcice. ':. In a few' minutes :they did so. 

 <Nb encouragement .was necessary for them to finish 

 the task' I had commenced; for as.'soon "as they saw 

 the struggling petsij it was a race of all who should 

 be - first at .'the scene: of. carriage,' and who should 

 first; dip 'the: blade .'of- his assegai .in. the victim's 

 blood. T-he drama :was :.soon vended ;: two or three 

 violent :strXiggles, a half-suppressed, .painful neigh 

 -of painy a .tremulous motion of the limbs and car- 

 case, land iall .was o:ver. : I; had time now to examine 

 our .prize. : :S;he' was 'a 'young ;mare, a picture of 

 .health, and condition, beautifully marked and in 

 perfect *coat. In height she , was; a trifle under 

 fourteen - hands, yet her limbs had the muscle and 

 bone of a home-bred hunter up. to. twelve or thirteen 

 stone. 



I insisted upon the hide being carefully removed, 

 for it was especially valuable at the present time, 



