202 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



practicable passage out of the donga. This I found 

 without exposing myself ; but there was no necessity 

 for this secrecy, for when I was on the plain not one 

 of the buck appeared to take the slightest notice of 

 my approach. Something had evidently bewitched 

 them, to which they must draw closer, although 

 their manner indicated that the alternative was far 

 from a pleasant one. 



Taking the mare well in hand, I made a dash for 

 the fascinated animals, but until I was within thirty 

 or forty, yards of them they totally ignored my ap- 

 proach ; then; however, they slowly trotted off, again 

 to reassemble within short rifle range, and inquire 

 from me, if their expression could be so construed, 

 V What do you mean by interfering in what does 

 not .concern you ? " I stood and gazed at the beasts 

 in absolute wonder. Never had I seen springbok so 

 tame; in fact, they were more than that they looked 

 as if they had the intention of disputing my right 

 to ride over the veldt. 



While taking stock of these beauties, my mare 

 had been nibbling at stray blades of grass that were 

 within her reach ; suddenly she ceased to feed, and 

 gently, raised her head, at the same time keeping her 

 eyes. fixed upon some object-that had attracted her 

 attention. , I was not long, kept in doubt what it 

 was. From the back of an ant-hill, at the base of 

 which grew a considerable quantity of rank herbage, 

 glided what I at first supposed to be a leopard, but 



