HUNTING IN THE SOTIK 215 



not a racing gallop by any means and after that she 

 was as manageable as a tame ox. Cantering and trotting 

 within thirty yards of her on either quarter they drove 

 her toward camp; but when it was still three-quarters of 

 a mile distant they put up a cheetah, and tore after it; and 

 they overtook and killed it just before it reached cover. A 

 cheetah with a good start can only be overtaken by hard 

 running. This one behaved just as did the others they 

 ran down. For quarter of a mile no animal in the world 

 has a cheetah's speed; but he cannot last. When chased 

 the cheetahs did not sprint, but contented themselves with 

 galloping ahead of the horses; at first they could easily 

 keep their distance, but after a mile or two their strength 

 and wind gave out, and then they always crouched flat to 

 the earth, and were shot without their making any attempt to 

 charge. But a wart-hog boar which Kermit ran down the 

 same day and shot with his revolver did charge, and wickedly. 

 While running one of his cheetahs Kermit put up two 

 old wildebeest bulls, and they joined in the procession, 

 looking as if they too were pursuing the cheetah; the chee- 

 tah ran first, the two bulls, bounding and switching their 

 tails, came next, and Kermit, racing in the rear, gained 

 steadily. Wildebeest are the oddest in nature and conduct, 

 and in many ways the most interesting, of all antelopes. 

 There is in their temper something queer, fiery, eccentric, 

 and their actions are abrupt and violent. A single bull will 

 stand motionless with head raised to stare at an intruder 

 until the latter is quarter of a mile off; then down goes his 

 head, his tail is lashed up and around, and off he gallops, 

 plunging, kicking, and shaking his head. He may go 

 straight away, he may circle round, or even approach nearer 

 to, the intruder; and then he halts again to stare motion- 

 less, and perhaps to utter his grunt of alarm and defiance. 

 A herd when approached, after fixed staring will move off, 

 perhaps at a canter. Soon the leaders make a half wheel, 

 and lead their followers in a semicircle; suddenly a couple 

 of old bulls leave the rest, and at a tearing gallop describe a 



