EXCITING CHASE. 97 



game; I at once knew them to be gemsbok, and gave 

 ohase at a hard canter. I gradually gained upon them, 

 and, after riding hard for about two miles, I ordered 

 Cobus to go ahead and endeavor to close with them. 

 At this moment we had reached the border of a slight 

 depression on the plain, down which the herd led, af- 

 fording me a perfect view of the exciting scene. The 

 gemsbok now increased their space, but Cobus's horse, 

 which was a good one with a very light weight, gained 

 upon them at every stride, and before they had reach- 

 ed the opposite side of the plain he was in the middle 

 of the foaming herd, and had turned out a beautiful 

 cow with a pair of uncommonly iine long horns. In 

 one minute he dexterously turned her in my direction, 

 and, heading her, I obtained a fine chance, and rolled 

 her over with two bullets in her shoulder. My thirst 

 was intense, and, the gemsbok having a fine breast of 

 milk, I milked her into my mouth, and obtained a drink 

 of the sweetest beverage I ever tasted. 



While I was thus engaged, Cobus was shifting his 

 saddle from the " Immense Brute" to the gray, which 

 being accomplished, I ordered him to renew the chase 

 and try to ride down the old bull for me. We fasten- 

 ed the " Immense Brute" to a bush beside the dead 

 gemsbok, and then, mounting the horse which Jacob 

 had been riding, I followed on as best I might. On 

 gaining the first ridge, I perceived the troop of oryx 

 about two miles ahead of me, ascending another ridge 

 at the extremity of the plain, and Cobus riding hard 

 for them about a mile astern, but rapidly gaining on 

 them. Oryx and boy soon disappeared over the dis- 

 tant ridge, the boy still far behind. The country here 

 changed from grass and bushes to extreme sterUiiy; 

 the whole ground was imdermined with the holes of 

 Vol. I.-^E 



