THE ROAN ANTELOPE 115 



such as I have described elsewhere, to find no less 

 than eleven roan, of which two were bulls, quietly 

 grazing on the sweet green young grass shoots of 

 late October. Through some imprudence, how- 

 ever, they perceived us, and broke away before I 

 could get near enough to fire, so we took up their 

 spoor and followed them. At first they cantered 

 down a series of sandy glades, bounded on both 

 sides by clumps of yellow, seared bamboos and 

 tiresome undergrowth. Through this we fol- 

 lowed, dodging behind the cover the bamboo 

 clumps afforded. At last they slowed down to a 

 walk, and we saw one place, under the shadow of 

 a gigantic bombax, already bursting out into its 

 summer clothing of sweet-smelling, deep red 

 blossoms, where they had evidently stood for 

 some time. Proceeding with great caution, we 

 soon afterwards dimly made them out in a grey 

 screen of stunted acacias, and here I left my two 

 companions fully extended on the ground, and 

 essayed the crawl upon my stomach which was 

 literally the only chance the surroundings afforded. 

 On I went, an inch at a time, slowly, painfully, 

 the dust mingling in a friendly manner with the 

 blinding perspiration which streamed down my 

 face. But it was no good. Before I had covered 

 half the distance a low whistle from behind ap- 

 prised me that they were again in full flight. The 

 chase now took us into lovely scenery bordering 

 the Lualua itself, at this point a wide, clear, 

 brilliant stream, roaring past great granite 

 boulders veined with pink dolomite and quartz, 

 and topped by the delicious tender green fronds of 



