THE PRONG-HORNED ANTELOPE. 231 



gun to the shoulder, I drew sight upon the leader ; over 

 he went; while my second shot, fired too hurriedly, 

 sent its bullet harmlessly ricochetting, its course being 

 marked by a puff of dust where the missile each 

 bound hit the soil. The fall of the leader turned the 

 remainder of the flock, and with the velocity of falcons 

 they rushed past Broomstick ; up went his tail and 

 down went his head ; half-a-dozen violent struggles, 

 and the hobbling broke. For a moment he stood, then 

 threw his mane recklessly about, turned round and gave 

 his dead load a sniff, and breaking into a succession of 

 buck-jumps, finishing with kicks, divested himself 

 of his burden, and in spite of all I could shout, with 

 the most perfect disregard for consequences, started 

 for home at a pace so unusual and so corky that I 

 vowed if ever I laid leg over him again he should give 

 me a specimen of the same gait for my gratification. 



I do not think I ever felt more savage in my life. 

 Two or three times I hesitated whether I would try the 

 effect of a leaden messenger after him ; if so long a 

 journey to civilisation had not been before me I believe 

 I should, but finally satisfied myself with the hopes 

 of speedy revenge. After spending half-an-hour in 

 dragging the game together, and possibly as much 

 longer in ruminating over the awkwardness of my 

 position, and the mutability of human and horse 



