342- 



A Breath from the Veldt 



horn into his side, and leaving him dead on the Veldt, Now Oom Piet thinks, 

 will the other two dogs catch the wildebeest calf ? So I climb up the horse 

 and gallop gently after them. The calf is now tired and a second dog comes 

 to seize it, but again the wildebeest cow strikes the dog and leaves him behind 

 on the ground, very sick. But the calf cannot go far, and the third dog, who 

 is more cunning, tries hard to bite the little one, and the cow keeps him off so 

 badly that I see I must shoot the rascal. Now Oom Piet comes close, and 

 still the dog does not run, so I shoot him dead, and there stands the old 

 wildebeest cow, who snorts but does not fly from me. Now though I come to 



OOM PIET S YARN 



shoot a wildebeest, yet can I not kill a beast that has so bravely fought and will 

 not run away ; so Oom Piet takes off his hat and says, ' Good-day to you, old 

 wildebeest cow ; you are a good and strong old wildebeest.' And we dine off 

 springbuck that night at the farm." 



This was the simple story of Oom Piet ; and, hard, matter-of-fact old 

 fellow as he was, I doubt if any Englishman could have shown a greater sense 

 of sportsmanlike consideration. 



After the first few days were passed I was pleased to find that those mists 

 of suspicion and dislike with which every Englishman is regarded by the Boers 

 were gradually wearing away, and as each evening closed, my host and his good 



