LICHTENSTEIN'S HARTEBEESTE 135 



companied. They were over 200 yards off at 

 the time, and it was evident that I should 

 have to make an effort to get nearer, as they 

 had already begun to betray symptoms of sus- 

 picion. Leaving my hunter fairly conspicuously 

 displayed on the summit of the ant-heap for the 

 purpose of monopolising their attention, I de- 

 scended, and began a crawl on hands and knees 

 to gain the shelter of a large tree-trunk which had 

 doubtless been long beforeuprooted in some violent 

 forest storm. Very gradually and quietly I 

 reached my goal without misadventure, and 

 found myself separated by not much more than 

 90 yards from the preoccupied animals, whose 

 attention was still obviously fixed upon my hunter 

 on the top of his ant-heap. I could see the bull's 

 horns easily enough, but a wretched cow had ob- 

 truded her mean person between us, and stood 

 almost in the line of fire, consuming me with 

 anxiety lest, in case they retreated, the bull 

 should continue to be covered by her. After a 

 few moments of uncertainty, the hunter solved 

 the difficulty for me by shpping from his position 

 on the ant-heap and rolling a yard or so down. I 

 knew that this would send the hartebeeste off, 

 and at that moment they swung round, and the 

 bull's shoulder was uncovered. On receiving my 

 first -803 hollow-pointed bullet he staggered, but 

 though obviously hard hit he galloped off after 

 the retreating cows, my second shot having 

 apparently completely missed him. Joined by 

 the hunters and other natives, I lost no time in 

 taking up the appreciable blood spoor ; but we 



