THE IMPALA 153 



African game, upon the female would seem to 

 devolve the important duty of ensuring the safety 

 of the entire community by the maintenance of 

 unbroken vigilance. The older males stand or 

 lie about, doubtless not insensible to the growing 

 weight of the fleeting years ; their heads are held 

 rather low, their inadequate tails ceaselessly 

 flicking at the wearisome flies, assisted now and 

 then by the shadow of a backward-thrust horn. 

 The younger animals, gaily conscious of the 

 joie de vivre of the bright period of golden youth 

 through which they are passing, hasten the slowly 

 fleeting hours by means of a succession of friendly 

 sparring matches, rearing up, goat-like, on their 

 hind legs and clicking their half-grown horns 

 together as head meets head in playful combat. 

 The smaller fry, not yet possessed of horns or other 

 outward and visible signs of advancing adoles- 

 cence, lie near their mothers, chewing the cud 

 with a quick, impatient movement of the tiny 

 jaws. Over all, permeating all, an air of in- 

 effable peace. Should, however, the sacrilegious 

 observer grow weary of the arcadian scene, and 

 his material soul yearn with a savage desire to 

 possess a remarkably fine pair of horns which he 

 espies adorning the shapely head of one of the 

 elders of the small community, the effect produced 

 by the discharge of his rifle is as astonishing as the 

 previous one was beautiful. With one impulse, 

 as though moved by an irresistible electric shock, 

 the impala leap to their feet with a quick snort of 

 alarm. They cannot at first understand the 

 nature of the calamity that has befallen, and they 



