230 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



small group of half-a-dozen springbok that still 

 grazed some half a mile distant, and as these fed 

 quietly enough, I walked gently to within 500 

 yards, and then, lying on the veldt, took 

 careful aim at the nearest. My aim was, rather to 

 my surprise, true ; the bullet clapped loudly, and the 

 springboks, after a jump or two, flashed away at top 

 speed. I noticed that the bok I had aimed at 

 lagged in the rear, and determined to follow him ; 

 I ran back, therefore, for my horse, and found that 

 my friends had had enough shooting for the present, 

 and were off to breakfast. Mounting my nag, I told 

 them I would not be long after them, and, amidst 

 some chaff, rode away for a thickly-bushed kopje 

 (a small hill or swelling in the veldt), towards which 

 the wounded bok, -vyhich was now detached from its 

 fellows, was retreating. I galloped hard, but the 

 wounded antelope entered the covert before I could 

 get within range. I soon reached the eminence 

 and entered the bush ; but quickly found it too 

 thick and stony for riding, and, dismounting, left 

 my horse. After wandering about some time, over 

 rough ground and through thorny bush in search 

 of the quarry, but without success, at length I gave 

 up the search. 



It was now ten o'clock — the sun was approaching 

 hotly towards his zenith ; I had been out since 

 three o'clock a.m., and was parched and tired. The 

 distant tinkle of goat bells, borne on the warm 

 breeze across the sun-dried karroo, told me that 

 the flocks had long since been unkraaled, and, 

 altogether, I began to think my friends had not 

 done unwisely in trekking for breakfast. Turning 

 my footsteps, therefore, after some little trouble, I 



