338 Great and Small Game of Africa 



of these fairy-like creatures, pranking, playing with one another, trotting 

 with springy footsteps hither and thither, or standing idly quiet. These 

 salt-pans attracted other game during the night : blue wildebeest, koodoo, 

 ostrich, gemsbok, a few roan antelope, and an occasional lion. These 

 animals had, however, invariably retired by dawn, leaving the springbucks 

 in possession. Upon these pans and upon the adjacent plains near the 

 Botletli we had excellent stalking among the springbuck. Sometimes 

 upon the pans we were enabled to approach them under cover of the 

 bush ; sometimes we rode out on the plains, and, dismounting, sidled up 

 behind our horses until we were within range, when, by dint of patience, 

 we were enabled to get a fair shot. As a rule, however, one was seldom 

 able to approach within less than 300 yards. In Benguela, where these 

 animals have not been much hunted, Mr. Penrice has been able to get within 

 a range of 80 or 100 yards. Springbuck shooting is by no means such 

 easy work as the numbers of these animals would lead one to suppose, and 

 the new-comer in South Africa usually wastes a large number of cartridges 

 for each buck he may be able to bring to bag. As one becomes accustomed 

 to this form of stalking, however, under intense sunlight and upon dazzling 

 plains, where mirage and refraction play strange pranks with atmosphere 

 and distances, the sport becomes more easy and the stalks are more profitable. 

 None the less springbuck stalking requires infinite patience, perseverance, 

 a good and accurately-sighted long-range rifle, and very straight powder. 

 Upon the whole the method of stalking springbuck behind a shooting 

 horse is the best that can be devised. Occasionally the buck can be 

 approached under cover of grazing oxen, and as one rides across the end- 

 less flats one can manage to get within range of these shy and suspicious 

 antelopes now and again. On two or three occasions, when in pursuit 

 of blue wildebeest and Burchell's zebra, I have got pretty close up to 

 herds of springbuck, which had been grazing in close company with the 

 larger game. 



