CHAPTER n 



A ioumov by bullock cart — Come ocroes antelope — A saooesBfnl stalk — 

 ling my first trophy — Exhibiting mj' prize — Join the 19th Native 

 I itrj' — A martinet C.O. — ^Life at Malegown — Hurdle races and a 

 fall — A novel remedy — ^The station skikari and his wiles — Paying for 

 exyjcrience — Beating for a phantom (Minther — Counterfeited foot- 

 Min^s — The fraud detected — Flight of the culprit — Pursuit aad 

 l>.:i!i>hment — A description of the offender — Experitntia docet — 

 Unreliability of native inforr*. on — Lying to please — Other reasras 

 for faL^e reports of game — Tatf and temper necessary to sooceas — 

 Kewards for true information, money well laid out — How to acquire 

 experience — A sad incident in our Station life — .Sk^'-larking end^ in a 

 disaster — Going to a race meeting by rail — Walking along the foot- 

 board — Approaching a bridge — Warned too late — C-annon«l oft into 

 the river — Body subsequently recovered. 



It was early morning when I left the railway station, at 

 which I had been deposited during the night, and started 

 in my bullock cart on the journey by road. 



We had not gone very far when we came across vast 

 herds of antelope. One small herd was feeding in a cotton- 

 field some distance apart from all the rest, so this was the 

 lot I elected to stalk. Working my way cautiously towards 

 them, I gradually approached within range when, takinf;^ 

 a long deliberate aim, I fired at what appeared to be the 

 largest buck. 



The beast fell to the shot at once, and by the time I had 



run up to it, was dead. I was naturally much delighted, 



for this was the first shot I had ever fired at any four-l«^ged 



aninml larger than a rabbit, whereas this one, though only 



*' lope, was at any rate regarded as big game. 



I)uck was quite an ordinary one, but to me, as my 

 lirht .sporting trophy, most preciotis, so much so in fact 

 that I insisted on skinning it myself, after which pcrfomi- 

 ance. very indifferently performetl I fear, we procecdcti 

 on our way. 



9 



