The Vaal Rhebuck 



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No other antelope in Africa affords truer sport than the rhebuck, for 

 none is so shy and difficult of approach ; it is sport for princes, and only 

 by energy, perseverance, and the possession of good health will success be 

 achieved. I will dismiss the subject of driving them by saying that it is 

 altogether unsportsmanlike, and will advise the sportsman, if alone, to wake 

 at dawn, have his early-morning coffee (that sine qua non of African sports- 

 men) and a biscuit, then to take the field with rifle (sighted to 400 yards) 

 and field-glasses, and make his way towards the rhebuck's feeding-grounds. 

 The sun should be just about rising when he gains some point whence he- 

 can sweep the valleys and broken ground below him, while the cool, keen 

 air blows healthily into his face, and every pulse within him bounds 

 exhilaratingly. If the rolling mist-clouds are still lingering in the valleys 

 and sweeping past him in fleecy wreaths, there is more need than ever of 

 caution, but at last a careful search will probably reveal a little herd, with 

 a good ram amongst them, making their way steadily upwards. The 

 sportsman — taking the direction of the wind and the lie of the ground into 

 consideration — must quickly decide whether he will endeavour to intercept 

 them in their ascent, or, should they show signs of delaying where they are, 

 whether it is possible to get down to lower ground and stalk them. In 

 any case, a shot at 120 yards or less may be obtained, but far more often it 

 will be between 200 and 300 yards ; and the satisfaction he will then feel, 

 as the loud " clop " of the bullet reaches his ears, and the white under fur 

 of the stricken ram shows up amongst the gray rocks or on the green sward, 

 will be tenfold greater. To attempt to approach rhebuck from below, 

 when they are occupying a mountain summit, is almost useless. In most 

 cases they will know instinctively that they have been discovered, and 

 directly the sportsman disappears from view, in his endeavour to work 

 round them, they make off; and while the former, half-an-hour later, is 

 congratulating himself on the near completion of a successful stalk, he will 

 suddenly hear a far-off " Tshu ! Tshu ! " and will see his would-be victims 



