If he could not catch the duiker, it could not catch 

 him : they were in a way too quick for each other, 

 and they were a long way too quick for me. 



Time after time I tried to get in close enough to 

 grab one of the buck's hind legs, but it was not to be 

 caught. While Jock was at it fast and furious in front, 

 I tried to creep up quietly behind but it was no use : 

 the duiker kept facing Jock with horns down, and when- 

 ever I moved it swung round and kept me in front 

 also. Finally I tried a run straight in ; and then 

 it made another dash for liberty. On three legs, how- 

 ever, it had no chance, and in another minute Jock 

 had it again, and down they came together, rolling 

 over and over once more. The duiker struggled 

 hard, but he hung on, and each time it got its feet to 

 the ground to rise he would tug sideways and roll it 

 over again, until I got up to them, and catching the 

 buck by the head, held it down with my knee on its 

 neck and my Bushman's Friend in hand to finish it. 



There was, however, still another lesson for us both 

 to learn that day ; neither of us knew what a buck 

 can do with its hind feet when it is down. The 

 duiker was flat on its side ; Jock, thinking the 

 was over, had let go ; and, before I could move, 

 the supple body doubled up, and the feet 

 whizzed viciously at me right over its 

 head. The little pointed cloven feet are as 

 hard and sharp as horns and will tear 

 the flesh like claws. By good luck 

 the kick only grazed my arm, but 

 although the touch was the lightest 

 113 H 



