338 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



cheroots, provided he would accompany us and show 

 us their trail, and mounting our nags we set out with 

 our guns and rifles, and, after a ride of five hours, 

 came upon the slots of the herd. These animals, 

 which take their name from the amazing springs 

 they make over bushes, or any obstruction that lies 

 in their path, are rather less than the common deer, 

 and about the same colour, with a white stripe on 

 each side; and a black stripe or mane along the back, 

 which they have the power of closing or expanding. 

 They are sometimes caught with greyhounds, but it 

 takes a good doo- to run them down. Confident in 

 their fleetness, it is very amusing to see the con- 

 temptuous way in which they treat their pursuers ; 

 as they allow them to come near, and then, giving a 

 bomid and a snort, expand the hair on their backs, 

 and change colour, appearing white. They are ex- 

 tremely graceful creatures, jumping beautifully, with 

 the head thrown back, the legs doubled quite under, 

 and the body curved, so that they appear for the 

 moment as if suspended in the air. 



" We were all, the Dutchman included, well 

 mounted on beautiful Cape horses belonging to 



S , and accompanied by a native servant, who 



had followed his master's fortunes over the ' Kala 

 Panee,' (Black Waters,) and a Hottentot boy of the 

 name of Ilans Kleine, (John the Lesser,) who was 

 quite a liisus naturce, for — 



' His back went in, and his belly stuck out, 

 And Ms lips resembled a grunter's snout.' 



