102 WOUNDED BUCKS. 



jogging over a hill, and making his way straight down to 

 the dead antelope. He cleans it, and, if it is too heavy 

 for him to carry alone, seeks for aid in the nearest kraal, 

 distant sometimes three or four miles ; by signalling, he 

 saves himself great part of the journey. The half of the 

 buck would be an ample reward for the service of an 

 additional man ; and the venison is thus sent home, while 

 the pony is saddled, and the sport again proceeded with. 



During the first fortnight that I was engaged at this 

 sport I shot only three bucks, although out eight times, 

 and having several fair shots each day. I thought that I 

 was bewitched, and had suddenly an attack of the crooked 

 eye ; but, upon mentioning in confidence to a friend, 



Major K (as perfect a gentleman and gallant a 



sportsman as ever trod on African soil), what had hap- 

 pened, he told me that very probably I had wounded 

 many more of these animals, but that they had dropped 

 when out of sight. He proposed going out with me one 

 day, an offer that I was delighted to accept; and I may 

 here mention that many of my earliest and best instruc- 

 tions were received from him. When riding a few hun- 

 dred yards from Major K , I fired at a fine ram 



reitbok, that got up about fifty yards in advance. I 

 thought I saw a little lurch in his action as the bullet 

 went by; but, not observing any other sign, I remained 



for an instant quite still. Major K then called out, 



" After him," with which direction I complied, and fol- 

 lowed in the buck's wake for fully half a mile. He 

 seemed to be going quite comfortably, and I began to 

 think there was no use in thus pursuing, when he stopped 



