202 A Breath from the Veldt 



old cow tune up in like manner on getting the wind. Owing to the nature 

 of the bush country in which they live, nearly all the larger antelopes habitu- 

 ally move in Indian file when running ; but, after watching them carefully, 

 I think sables are more inclined to bunch in the centre of the troop when 

 running than any other antelopes, except the pallah. At all times they run 

 in a compacter formation than roan antelope, and far more than waterbuck, 

 which sometimes maintain quite a big interval between individuals. When 

 the bulls arrive at two years of age or thereabouts, I fancy that they are ejected 

 from the troop, and the lord himself has many a tough battle to hold his own 

 with the rival adult bulls travelling in search of a harem. These single 

 wandering males (often fully adult) are the ones most commonly met with by 

 the sportsman. They lead a solitary life till they are capable of annexing a 

 troop of their own, and then they take good care to keep it. From his size 

 and strength there can be little doubt that a sable bull is the most formidable 

 and plucky of all the antelopes, though he has not the reputation of being 

 quite so dangerous to man as the roan antelope. The stories about this animal 

 being more than a match for the lion are no doubt quite true, and a fight- 

 between these two splendid beasts is the subject of a fine picture by the late 

 Thomas Baines, whose work as an artist of African wild life is practically 

 unknown in this country.^ Mr. Baines has represented the lion being speared 

 through as it has sprung on the back of the sable bull going at full gallop ; 

 but I doubt whether this has ever been seen in real life, for all the natives 

 affirm that the sable when collared generally lies down, and invites a charge 

 on its back, turning its head sideways as represented in my sketch, so as to 

 give the horns a deadly sidelong thrust, which must be pretty crushing to 

 even a lion. The rapidity with which it slashes its head for the horns to 

 sweep over its back is quite remarkable, being such as one could hardly expect 

 in so big an animal. I have now in my possession the skin of the second sable 

 bull which I killed. It was scored all down one flank, showing where a lion 

 had hold of him a short time previously. He had evidently beaten off his 

 antagonist successfully. This mode of striking on the part of the sable is so 

 effective and remarkable that I give one or two little pen-and-ink sketches of 

 the animal's attitudes as they impressed me. 



Near the Lundi River a native turned up at my camp one morning and 



1 A very fine collection of this artist's works has lately been on view at the Crystal Palace (1895). The 

 pictures, though perhaps not very great as works of art, nevertheless give the beholder a better impression 

 of South Africa and its bygone life than any others yet exhibited. 



