212 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



Having crossed the flat, I soon stalked within shot, 

 when, raising my rifle slowly, I fired at a lovely oM doe 

 which stood on my left. The baU passed right through 

 her a little behind the shoulder ; she bounded down hill, 

 when I fired my second barrel, at her, but, owing to the 

 darkness, I missed. The potaquames above me, seeing 

 nothing and smelling nothing, stood bewildered until I 

 had reloaded, lying on my side. I then shot anbthei 

 splendid doe with a perfect pair of wide-set horns, put- 

 ting two bullets through her fore quarters. She, how- 

 ever, took two more balls before she lay, when I put a 

 fifth bullet into lier to stop her kicking, as she was in- 

 juring her horns on the rocky ground. By this time 

 the sun was under and the moon shone bright." High- 

 ly gratified at my success, I now cut off this magnifi- 

 cent antelope's head, and descended the mountain with 

 a slow and careful step. The other potaquaine did not 

 leave the ground, and I got her also next day. 



I now reckoned my collection of African trophies as 

 almost perfect. Last year I shot an old buck pota- 

 quaine in the Bamangwato country, which I had care- 

 fully preserved ; and I had now shot two splendid does, 

 which was what I most particularly required to com- 

 plete my collection. I still wanted heads of the " blue- 

 buck" or "kleenbok," "Vaal rheebok," " ourebi," and 

 " reitbok ;" but these were abundant in the colony, 

 and were not hard to get. 



Next morning I ascended the mountain to secure the 

 flesh of the dead potaquaine and to secure the wounded 

 one. I found her still alive, and on seeing me she made 

 off; I, however, followed her up, and, making a correct 

 ■Btalk barefooted, I shot her where she stood : she proved 



very old doe. 



The 23d was a very cool and cloudy mornin.",. ami 



