128 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



timber, rides of from 30 to 40 feet wide had been cut at 

 intervals from end to end and across the covert, and in 

 these rides the guns were posted some 80 yards apart. 

 The undercover was in some parts very dense, and in 

 others sparse and open. 



For a time nothing but the rustle of the foliage was 

 heard in the plantation, and then an ear-splitting holloa 

 from Oom Jan gave the signal for the beaters to advance. 

 The distant yells of the natives gradually increased in 

 volume, until the covert seemed to be peopled by a 

 whole legion of demons, while doves came screwing 

 through the tree-trunks, and over the dark, shade- 

 giving foliage in hundreds. The small South African 

 dove, however, is scarcely worth a cartridge, and though 

 often offering very sporting and difficult shots, they 

 were allowed to go on their way unscathed. 



After the first big flight of doves, hares began to make 

 their appearance, some quietly loping through the 

 undergrowth, and others tearing along or across the 

 rides at such speed that a charge of shot sent them 

 somersaulting like so many well-shot rabbits. 



Next, a sudden rustling amongst the dense under - 

 covert caused me to face to the right, when I saw a 

 steinbok standing still, as though imdecided whether to 

 break back or advance, within twenty yards of my 

 stand. 



It was with a feeling akin to shame that I " mowed 

 down " the beautiful little antelope with the contents 

 of my left barrel (No. 3 " chilled ") ; for it seemed to 



