SPORT AND TRAVEL 163 



as all over these alkali plains there grows in, great 

 profusion a kind of dwarf cactus, whose thick fleshy 

 arms, which only appear just above the surface of 

 the ground, are thickly covered with innumerable 

 little sharp spines, which on being touched at once 

 become detached from the parent plant and adhere 

 to one's flesh in little clusters. The sides of these 

 little spines are minutely serrated, which causes them 

 to work their way deeper and deeper into whatever 

 they have adhered to. They are said to often cause 

 festering sores, but I suppose that is when one's blood 

 is out of order. 



After my stalk was over, I found my knees and 

 thighs, elbows and hands, full of these cactus spines; 

 but at the time I was approaching the antelopes I 

 was so intent on the business in hand that I did not 

 pay any attention to them. When I was about two 

 hundred yards away from them, I think one of the 

 antelopes saw me, but could not quite make me 

 out, as I was lying flat on the ground. He trotted 

 away for a few yards and then stood nearly broad- 

 side with his head turned, looking backwards. Not 

 seeing any chance of getting nearer, and as I could 

 see him better than either of the other two, I fired 

 at him as I lay, and heard the bullet tell. He dashed 

 away, however, together with his companions ; but I 

 did not think he would go far, as I was using a Mann- 

 licher rifle and expanding bullets. Running quickly 

 to the spot where the antelope had stood when I fired 



