28 
SOMALILAND 
the gigantic birds vanished into the mist at a tremendous 
pace. 
I next attempted to walk within range of some hartebeest, 
but they would not allow me to try a shot. They would 
stand staring at me at about 400 yards, and just as I sank 
down to try a shot, with a whisk of their tails they would 
gallop off. At length I waited for the camel I had brought 
out with me to carry the meat, should any fall to my rifle. 
When he came up with us, I got a man to lead him towards, 
the hartebeest, which were now almost out of sight in the 
haze. I walked close behind him, and had mot proceeded 
far, when, on brushing' off some flies with my hand from the 
camel’s hind-legs, he suddenly let out backwards with his 
huge foot, and caught me full on the shin, nearly knocking 
me down ! 
At length, hiding behind the camel, I managed to limp 
up to within about 300 yards of the hartebeest, which were 
slowly walking parallel with us. Whenever the antelope 
turned t 9 the right, and so had their heads away from us, 
we hit up the camel, turned his course, and made straight 
for them as hard as we could go ; but directly they turned 
to the left again, or stood to look at us, we also turned to 
the left, as though we were going to pass without molesting 
them. 
In this manner we steadily gained upon them, and when 
they next stood still I sat down behind the camel, which I 
ordered to proceed without stopping, and when it had passed 
me I took aim and fired at the nearest antelope. But being 
shaky with excitement (as I was very anxious to bag one),, 
and tired with my long walk in the sun, I made a clean 
miss. They galloped off, but stopped soon after. On 
rejoining the camel, we turned his head after the antelope, 
and again commenced slowly to walk after them. We were 
soon again within 300 or 400 yards, and were marching 
thus parallel to them, when, tired of our company, they 
suddenly turned to the left and made a dash for it across 
our path. Calling to the man to turn the camel in front of 
