234 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



moment I knew that he was spent, and a few minutes after- 

 wards I ran into him in the river-bed. 



Both Watson and I examined him most carefully for 

 any signs of a bullet wound, but both then and when 

 skinning him later found no signs of anything except the 

 spear wounds. I think there is no doubt that he was 

 unwounded and healthy. 



The country was all in favour of a horse as against a black- 

 buck — grass about 3 feet 6 inches high and fairly thick, 

 good hard-going. The buck was by no means gorged, but 

 was in very good fat condition. His horns measured 19j 

 inches. The mare was distinctly distressed for some 

 hours afterwards, but she ate her feed at night and was 

 quite all right next day. She unfortunately died some 

 two years afterwards of tetanus. 



I never want to spear another buck ; I can remember its 

 pathetic eyes to-day. 



Hy^na 



Hyaena are often met with on the line, and still 

 more often heard at night, though I do not think many 

 people know their call. I have heard every sort 

 of noise from a screech-owl to a bull-frog ascribed 

 to them. They are generally ridden when put up, 

 and as a rule give a good run. They are the most 

 jinking brutes in creation and the hardest to spear. 

 As they run and as they jink they sway from side 

 to side like a sheaf driven in the wind. Their long 

 upright mane enhances the effect and causes one 

 often to over-estimate the size of their bodies and 

 miss them. In spite of their powerful jaws they are 

 wretched fighters. I have had a spear-shaft nearly 

 bitten through by one, but that was only when the 

 poor beast was in extremis. 1 saw one speared this 

 year who, when he was collared, abandoned flight, 

 and went straight for his hunters, biting hard right 

 and left. I have never seen another case of this. 



