124 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



I was out one evening with only a native attendant, when 

 I observed an unusual object on the black salt plain, about 

 half-a-mile ahead. With the glass I could see something move, 

 so, directing the cart to follow, I dismounted, and taking my 

 rifle I advanced. When within 300 yards of the spot I saw 

 a wolf rise from a slight hollow where it had been lying, then 

 another, and a third. They stood looking at us for some time, 

 and then went off slowly, watching us all the time. 



I endeavoured to approach them by directing the cart to 

 move in an oblique direction ; but they were very suspicious, 

 and the distance between us seemed to increase. One of the 

 three was much larger than his companions, and I turned my 

 attention to him. He was an immense beast, with shaggy 

 tufts of hair about his neck, and altogether seemed a very 

 respectable patriarch. My rifle was sighted to 250 yards, 

 and, despairing of getting a closer shot, I raised the highest 

 sight and fired. I saw the dust fly as the ball struck the 

 ground fifty yards short of the wolf ; but the line of fire was 

 correct, and the ricochet took him almost through the heart. 

 He dashed forward at a headlong pace, with his tail whirling 

 in the air, and his head coming lower at every stride. After 

 going a short distance he fell over dead. I was much 

 pleased with this shot, for the wolf must, at the time I 

 fired, have been at least 300 yards from me, and I generally 

 considered it good shooting if I could make sure of a buck 

 at 100. 



Shooting one morning near this place, I wounded a buck, 

 which I followed on horseback for several miles before I 

 secured him. I had left my cart far behind, so, sticking my 

 spear into the ground, I attached to it a white handkerchief, 

 to mark the spot in the grass. On rejoining the cart, I 

 directed my men to bring in the buck, and rode off into 



