204 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



seeming to ask for what reason I was thus perse- 

 cuting it. Even now I would have spared the poor 

 thing ; but its skin was beautiful and valuable, and, 

 further, had it not lived a marauder's life ? Thus 

 satisfying my conscience for what I was about to do, 

 I dismounted. The aim I took was for the centre 

 of the creature's breast, and death was instantaneous. 



The most common observer of animal life can 

 never mistake the cheetah for the leopard, for the 

 former totally differs in shape, as well as colour, 

 from the latter; however, it is a very handsome 

 beast, very dog-like in character and disposition, 

 and, if captured young, can easily be made a most 

 interesting and affectionate pet. 



As I returned to my mare, I saw a pallah, an 

 animal now becoming very scarce, although at one 

 time rather abundant all over the colony ; this is 

 much to be regretted, as it is a very handsome 

 antelope. 



What with the two springbok, the cheetah skin, 

 and myself, the little mare had quite a load to 

 carry, so I made my home journey at a slow pace. 

 As the mare was a very fast walker, I rapidly 

 overtook two pedestrians, when, to my surprise, I 

 discovered them to be white men, and more dis- 

 reputable-looking specimens of the breed I had 

 seldom previously come in contact with. The cloth- 

 ing of the first was of blue serge for a groundwork, 

 but it was patched and mended in so many places, 



