A Breath from the Veldt 



169 



buck. Two ewes of the troop they had already killed, and it looked as though 

 these Dutchmen were about to bag the rest of them for their beloved 

 " biltung " ; but fortune favoured the waterbucks. Rough ground riddled 

 with holes was all right for them — they were used to it — and when they 

 reached the edge of the sluit, away they went as easily as if they were on a 

 turnpike road, whilst the horses in pursuit were all at sea and compelled to 

 move warily for fear of broken legs. The Basadanotes followed the troop a 

 short distance, but Hert, who was a poor rider at best, greeted his mother 



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S^j^^ffype 



HEAD OF A REEDBUCK IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH 

 Showing curious shape of the nose and soft flesh-coloured bases to the horns. 



earth with more force than tenderness, and proceeded to vent his displeasure on 

 his poor horse (an excellent and willing animal, who was not to blame) by a 

 series of kicks in the stomach and many Dutch oaths. For my part, I was not 

 at all sorry that the waterbucks got away, for it is the slaughter of the ewes of 

 all species that plays havoc with the game of the country. There are always 

 plenty of wandering males in search of troops of females with or without an 

 owner, and the destruction of a limited number of these makes little difference ; 

 but when the females suffer constant persecution, the days of all big game are 

 numbered. 



