HIDING WOUNDED ANTELOPES. 445 



It took effect ; but too far back to bring down the 

 buck, which galloped off with the herd. 



Norman debated with himself for a moment 

 whether he should call for his horse and spear, and 

 attempt to ride down the wounded animal, or mark 

 it, and then endeavour to obtain another shot. He 

 determined on the latter course, in order to save his 

 horse, who had a long journey before him on the 

 following day ; for a buck, though wounded, will 

 often give a gallop of many miles. 



On a slow horse, I have, more than once, been 

 led by a buck on three legs with one fore leg 

 broken below the knee a distance which would 

 appear wonderful to those not acquainted with the 

 desperate exertions an antelope can make to escape. 



Norman who had often speared wounded ante- 

 lopes decided, therefore, to trust to another shot, 

 which he hoped soon to secure, for the wounded 

 buck was already falling to the rear. Through his 

 binocular, he watched the herd as they shot into the 

 air with those tremendous bounds for which they 

 are distinguished. 



The wavy heat-haze and mirage played over the 

 surface of the plain, now stricken with the full glare 

 and fervour of the ascending sun. The antelope 

 became dim and indistinct in this hot mist as they 

 continued their course towards the horizon. Their 



