BUCK-SHOOTING. 101 



After starting the Kaffirs to their look-out stations, I 

 could comfortably take my breakfast, do any business 

 that was required, and then mount my horse and canter 

 out to the ground that might have been selected for that 

 particular day's sport. Then riding through the long 

 grass, and beating up the ravines, the antelope would soon 

 be bounding away in all directions. Now came the sport. 

 The grass being nearly five feet long, it was necessary to 

 fire from the saddle, and it was very pretty to see the 

 shooting-pony, with an instinct almost equal to reason, 

 following the dog in every turn, and doing so without a 

 touch of the reins, standing also like a rock when a buck 

 sprang up. Away the antelope would rush, making (if an 

 ourebi) perpendicular leaps of at least two yards in the 

 air, and then scouring over the plain. But a quick 

 messenger would soon be after him, and the sound of the 

 bullet striking would be frequently the only indication of 

 a successful aim. The buck might drop dead if struck in 

 the neck, the shoulder, or the kidneys ; if in other parts, 

 he frequently galloped off with a doubled-up and cramped 

 action. The hitherto quiet dog would then come out in 

 a new character, and give chase to the buck, while the 

 pony would have to do his best to live with the two. 

 A mile or so would decide the thing. Upon the buck being 

 vanquished, no trouble was then taken in cleaning him ; 

 the pony is off-saddled, immediately takes a roll, and 

 commences grazing, while dog and man look out for 

 the nearest stream of water to obtain a drink and to cool 

 themselves from the effects of the burning sun. 



In about half an hour one of mv Kaffirs would be seen 



