Sporting Trips of a Subaltern 



example. My first bullet had penetrated the 

 heart ; nevertheless, the beast had galloped 

 furiously for a short distance before dying; we 

 had only lost sight of him for a few seconds, 

 so he was barely dead. Spots dashed up, one 

 glance at the beast, and instead of drawing his 

 knife he picked some grass and thrust it into the 

 glazing eye; not a move of the eyelid betrayed 

 the least flicker of life. Spots and I were alone. 

 I shouted to him to "hallal" quick; but no, he 

 would rather endure the chaff of his comrades, 

 who would be naturally annoyed at a fat buck 

 dying without their getting any meat, than 

 "hallal" an instant late, and pretend the beast 

 had died by a Mohammedan hand. 



Next morning we started our hunters before 

 dawn, galloping after them a little later, and 

 before 7 a.m. we were well out on the plain. At 

 first no game was visible, and I began to think 

 the Toyo was as lifeless as it had been before the 

 rains. Presently, however, two hartebeests crossed 

 our front. I dismounted to follow them, and they 

 led me into a mass of buck such as I have never 

 seen before or since. It was a lovely morning, 

 with a cold wind, bright sky, and brilliant sun- 

 shine ; not too strong, though, to necessitate any 

 more head-gear than a cap. The plain was the 

 light green of young grass, and as far as the eye 

 could reach were masses of fawn-coloured aoul 



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