124 IN AT THE DEATH. 



from a rocky ravine near, and formed a sort of court or 

 semicircle, the back of which was high, and like a stone 

 wall. He stood in the water, and as I approached could 

 not retreat, as he was in a sort of cul de sac, and did not 

 like coming past me. I left my horse, and came within 

 forty yards of the antelope, to prevent his getting away, 

 and had another try at my obstinate bullet. I could not 

 get a move out of it, and therefore felt inclined to go in 

 at the bull with my long clasp-knife ; but a threatening 

 kind of pawing, and a shake of the head, when I came 

 near, made me think it more prudent " to keep off." 



I now remembered a Dutchman's plan for a "sticks 

 bullet" as they call it; viz., dropping a little water in the 

 barrel. I went to the stream and let a few drops trickle 

 down on the bullet. I soon found the good result, for the 

 ball began to move, and at each blow from the ramrod 

 went lower and lower, until the clear ring and springing 

 of the ramrod at length showed it to be home. I then 

 laid my impatient prisoner low with a shot behind the 

 shoulder ; he was a fine young bull about fifteen hands in 

 height. I off-saddled and sat down near him, as I was 

 not inclined to follow the remainder of the herd, both 

 horse and self having done our work. After about half 

 an hour, my heavy friend showed on the hill- top, and 

 came galloping down and shouting to know where the 

 elands had gone, with as much eagerness as though he 

 had been but half a mile instead of half an hour behind. 

 I accounted for one out of the lot, which he helped 

 me to skin and. decapitate (a proceeding that we did not 

 accomplish before sunset), and we conveyed the head 



