CHASE OF AN ANTELOrE. 247 



with me, on purpose to obtain, if possible, one of 

 the larger antelopes, and Ohmed Mahomed now 

 asked me to go and endeavour to shoot one. I 

 accordingly started, and taking advantage of one 

 of the water channels, I soon found myself abreast 

 four very fine ones, as large as roebucks, and not 

 more than eighty yards distant. I fired at once, but 

 being in a hurry, and my short carbine not carrying 

 point-blank more than sixty yards, the ball struck 

 the one I aimed at low on the hind leg, breaking 

 it below the hough. It staggered on to its hind 

 quarters, but recovering itself immediately, tried 

 on three legs to follow its affrighted companions. 

 Ebin Izaak seeing this, jumped upon his mule, and 

 throwing his shield from the bow of his saddle, 

 and his tobe from his shoulders, galloped in a 

 direction that would either cut off its retreat, and 

 prevent it joining the others, or else force it up 

 the steep face of the cliff, down which we had just 

 come. After a chase of about half an hour, in 

 sight the whole time, we saw our eager huntsman 

 come alongside the antelope and at full speed 

 launch his spear into its side. As the animal fell 

 tumbling on its face, Izaak leaped from his mule, 

 and soon put an end to its vain effort to rise and 

 to resist, by cutting its throat with his dagger. 



The Hy Soumaulee and some of the Kafilah 

 men having followed us over the ridge of Mahree, 

 now came bounding down the bed of the stream, 

 one after the other, gathered around the dead 



