A SPLENDID SABLE 5^NTEL0PE SHOT. 287 



and soon after I started a princely old buck from his 

 lair. He was lying in long grass in a sandy spot be- 

 hind a bush, within eighty yards of me. Starting from 

 his mountain bed, this gem of beauty rattled up a rocky 

 slope beside which he had been lying, and, halting for 

 a moment, looked back to see what had disturbed him, 

 when I sent a bullet through his ribs, and, as he dis- 

 appeared over the ridge, lodged another in his vitals. 

 Having loaded, I followed on the spoor, and, soon ob- 

 served hira within a hundred and fifty yards of me, 

 standing in a green hollow far below, whisking his tail, 

 and evidently severely wounded. A strong breeze which 

 was then blowing was against me, as it shook a young 

 tree of which I wished to avail myself for a rest. I 

 nevertheless managed to make a fine shot, and sent a 

 bullet tl^rough the center of his shoulder, bringing him 

 down on his face, and laming him. The potaquaine 

 disappeared down the wooded mountain side over a 

 rooky ridge, but no rude fears agitated my breast ; I 

 had lamed him, and that was enough : if stalking should 

 fail, there were dogs at my wagons that could very soon 

 bring him to bay. I did not, however, wish to be put 

 to the trouble of sending for the dogs, and continued to 

 follow on his spoor with extreme caution. He had only 

 gone a short distance down the hill when I found him 

 without his seeing me, and, after a successful stalk, 1 

 finished him with three more shots, two of which were 

 in his stern. This was a most splendid specimen of 

 tills very rare and most lovely antelope ; his horns were 

 enormous, very long, rough, and perfect. Having cut 

 off the head for stuffing, and gralloched him, we cov- 

 ered him with many green boughs and returned to camp, 

 whence I dispatched a party for the venison and the 

 skin, which I preserved. 



