132 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



yards distant grazed in a scattered formation a 

 dozen or more of that handsome species, the 

 sassaybe, or bastard hartebeest. The wind suited, 

 as did the ground for a stalk, so I retired from 

 my place of observation, led the mare back to the 

 meadow I have previously mentioned, and, making 

 a dttour to the left, found that I had good cover 

 to within a short distance of the game. I never 

 remember to have had an opportunity for such an 

 easy stalk, and may say that I considered my eggs 

 hatched before they were laid, when, unaccountable 

 as it may appear, the bucks suddenly threw their 

 heads in the air ; one gave a shrill whistle a ca 

 which was accepted by all as a note of assembly 

 and off they went, bunched so close together, tha 

 I firmly believe, if I had followed the poachers 

 plan of firing into the brown of them, I must hav 

 secured a trophy. Something had alarmed them 

 there was no doutjf ; yet it was impossible tha 

 they could have winded or seen me. At the time 

 I supposed that it was a leopard that had crosse 

 between the wind and their nobility, on his retur 

 home from his nocturnal wanderings. However 

 my disappointment did not last long. I though 

 1 heard the clattering of many hoofs, and looking 

 through the bush just where it edged upon th 

 open ground, a large drove of the same animals 

 going at their best pace, were about to break covei 

 The distance they w r ere from me could not excee 



