ORYXES AND ZEBRAS. 131 



tunate with them. Having lost the koodoos, I turned 

 my face to the south, and rode along the skirts of the 

 forest, in hope of falling in with my comrades. 



I had ridden about a mUe, when 1 suddenly perceived 

 a gallant herd of nine old oryxes cantering toward me, 

 all of them oarryiag horns of immense length and beau- 

 ty, surpassing any thing I had hitherto seen. They 

 were preceded by four beautifully-striped zebras, the 

 first I had met with, and followed" by two brilliant red 

 hartebeests. In half a minute I was fly iag along within 

 sixty yards of the troop of oryxes, carefully studying 

 the horns of each, and at a loss to decide which was 

 the finest, they were all so very handsome. As I swept 

 along I deplored my folly in having taken the field 

 without my after-riders ; I nevertheless entertained 

 hopes of success, as these antelopes had evidently been 

 followed by the Grriquas from whom I parted. They 

 led me a long and severe^hase along the skirts of the 

 hill, the wind fortunately blowing right across them. 

 After riding hard for several miles I felt my horse very 

 much distressed, and was on the point of giving up the 

 pursuit, when I observed one old bull make a mom.entary 

 halt under a mimosa, evidently very much blown. This 

 gave me fresh hope; I resolved to follow him as long 



as my horse could go, and once more I gave chase with 

 renewed speed. I was soon riding opposite to him, 



within sixty yards, with the hiH on the other side, and 

 by a desperate effort I managed to out him off from his 

 comrades, and turn his head down the wind. His fate 

 was now sealed, and I at once felt that he was mine. 

 From this moment his pace decreased, and, after an- 

 other half mile of sharp galloping down MU, iii which 

 I gained upon him at every stride, I was riding within 

 fifteen yards of his handsome round stern. His tongue 



