134 AN ESCAPADE. 



his ribs. I took enormous pains to skin and preserve the 

 head from injury, and then went down for my nag, who had 

 remained feeding quietly. He was a good shooting-horse, 

 and generally behaved well ; but when he saw me coming, 

 he gave an impudent sort of whisk of his tail and 

 walked quietly away, holding his head sufficiently on one 

 side to keep the reins from catching the feet. I called to 

 him and stood still, he stopped and fed ; I walked slowly 

 towards him, he walked slowly away, keeping his eye on 

 me with a malicious twinkle ; I ran towards him, he 

 trotted off; and thus passed half an hour. I found it 

 was no use trying to catch him, for he was determined on 

 mischief, and there was no help for it. I returned to the 

 hartebeest and got his head and tail and my gun; the 

 skin I left, as it was more than I could carry in addition. 

 I then returned to my horse, who had made use of his 

 time and had been feeding away at the short green 

 grass. As I came towards him, he moved on as before : 

 fortunately he seemed to know the road that he had come, 

 and returned on his spoor. Now and then he would canter 

 on half a mile or so, stop and feed till I came near, when 

 he would start off again. It was a great trial for my 

 temper, as my load was considerable and the journey before 

 me very long ; the burning sun was directly over my head, 

 and its heat consequently intense. I took a pull or two 

 at my flask, and trudged on for upwards of four hours 

 before I came in sight of my friend's house, this 

 tantalizing rascal in front of me the whole time. I then 

 went to the stream near, and finding a still, quiet pool, 

 cooled myself with a dip in its clear water. 



