340 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHAUR chap. 



the same authority to be all bucks of fair size. They 

 were moving up the opposite hillside, oddly enough 

 away from the plain, and we resolved to try and get 

 ahead of them. By making a long detour we got on the 

 hill they were ascending, and presently had the satisfac- 

 tion of seeing them lie down in a small hollow. This was 

 a great bit of luck, and we proceeded to take advantage of 

 it by creeping up to them. Getting a little above, we 

 worked our way downwards towards them. When we 

 thought we were close, Giato sat down and signed to 

 Abdulla to do the same, while I went on alone. Flat 

 on my stomach I crawled on, gently descending all the 

 time. The perspiration dripped from my forehead, and 

 the granite sand worked its way in at my sleeves and 

 elsewhere. Soon I saw three pairs of small horns, and 

 at the same moment the little beasts heard me, for they 

 sprang up instantly, and stood for a second looking in my 

 direction. Perceiving that they had seen me, I also 

 jumped up, and the three started off at top speed. I 

 fired at one, and he fell, and the other two disappeared 

 from view in a hollow as I took the rifle from my 

 shoulder to reload. Here a double barrel would cer- 

 tainly have given me another shot, and possibly another 

 head. It was the only occasion, up to that date, when 

 in using the carbine I had felt that a second barrel would 

 have been of advantage. Presently the two which had 

 escaped got down to the plain and stood still, and I fired 

 a long shot at one of them on the off-chance. The 

 bullet went over him, and the two went on for another 

 quarter of a mile, and then put their heads down to 

 feed. The buck that had fallen was lying some 70 or 80 



