OF THE OLD WOULD. 181 



We loaded our rifles, and after a few minutes' 

 canter arrived at the plaee indicated, wliere we saw 

 a lierd consisting of about sixty does and seven or 

 eight bucks, which were easily distinguishable, on 

 account of their long spiral horns and much darker 

 colour. They caught sight of us almost immediately, 

 and our sudden appearance caused some consterna- 

 tion ; for the does collected in a body behind the 

 bucks, who stood as if on sentry, carefully watching 

 our movements, although we were at least six hun- 

 dred yards distant. I saw at once that they were very 

 wild, and that the utmost caution would be neces- 

 sary in stalking so as to get within shot : we there- 

 fore rode slowly away, until I could see by my field- 

 glass that they had ceased to take any notice of us. 



I then directed B and D where to take 



post under cover of some bushes, whilst I under- 

 took to stalk the leader, a fine black buck with a 

 beautiful pair of antlers, and to draw the herd if 

 possible towards their ambuscade. I divested my- 

 self of my white pith hunting-cap, substituting a 

 head-dress formed of creepers, and cutting a number 

 of pliable twigs I interwove them into a kind of 

 basketwork screen, in which I fastened green 

 boughs, so as to make it resemble a bush as much 

 as possible, leaving an opening through which I could 

 point my rifle. When this was completed I sallied 

 forth, taking care to get to leeward, and seeking 

 any cover I could find, either behind bushes or from 

 any slight undulations of the ground, until I got to 



