it cut the skin and little beads of blood shot up marking 

 the line like the scratch of a thorn. Missing my arm 

 the hoof struck full on the handle of the Bushman's 

 Friend and sent it flying yards out of reach. And it 

 was not merely one kick : faster than the eye could 

 follow them the little feet whizzed and the legs seemed 

 to buzz round like the spokes of a wheel. Holding 

 the horns at arm's length in order to dodge the kicks, 

 I tried to pull the duiker towards the knife ; but it was 

 too much for me, and with a sudden twist and a wrench 

 freed itself and was off again. 



All the time Jock was moving round and round 

 panting and licking his chops, stepping in and stepping 

 back, giving anxious little whimpers, and longing to 

 be at it again, but not daring to join in without 

 permission. When the duiker broke away, however, 

 he waited for nothing, and was on to it in one spring 

 again from behind ; and this time he let go as 

 it fell, and jumping free of it, had it by the throat 

 before it could rise. I ran to them again, but the 

 picking up of the knife had delayed me and I was not 

 in time to save Jock the same lesson that the duiker 

 had just taught me. 



Down on its side, with Jock's jaws locked in its throat, 

 once more the duiker doubled up and used its feet. 

 The first kick went over his head and scraped harm- 

 lessly along his back ; but the second caught him at 

 the point of the shoulder, and the razor-like toe ripped 

 his side right to the hip. Then the dog showed his 

 pluck and cleverness. His side was cut open as if 

 it had been slashed by a knife, but he never flinched 



114 



