258 
SOMALILAND 
morning light was bad, and I could hardly see him at 
the distance, but I knew I hit him and sent the pony 
after him. He fell dead, however, before the pony reached 
him. This proved the longest shot I ever made, and 
measured with the tape the distance was 704 yards. 
We next raced after an oryx, which had got the wind 
of the caravan, but he dodged us. Soon after we 
saw two oryx together. Sitting down I hit them both. 
The distance, however, was so great it was impossible to 
make sure of getting them in the right place and they 
both made off. I looked round for the pony, but, as usual 
my syce was nowhere to be seen, so I was obliged to run 
after the antelopes on foot, and a long chase I had, to be sure. 
Over the roughest stony ground imaginable I careered, 
downhill, uphill, over river-beds and through thick bushes. 
I was determined to bag them, and, in spite of my shikari’s 
entreaties to give it up, I kept up a repeated fire whenever 
they stood for a moment at about 500 yards. Down fell 
one at last, and the other disappeared over a stony ridge. 
I was so blown when I reached the top of the ridge I could 
not shoot straight at the antelope slowly descending below 
me, but I managed to give him one bullet, after firing a 
whole magazine at him without effect. He squatted, and 
keeping well away from his formidable horns, I put him out 
of his misery ; and a beautiful animal he was, the finest 
bull oryx I have ever killed. His size may be gathered 
by those who have shot this large antelope when I say 
that his fore-hoof measured inches in breadth. His 
horns measured 31 J inches, an unusual size for a male, the 
females nearly always furnishing the best heads. 
My shikari now left me to try to find the pony and 
syce, and show him the first oryx killed. I waited and 
waited, but he did not return. What an age he seemed to 
be away ! ‘ On your lonesome ’ in the desert is not particu- 
larly pleasant. Not a sound was to be heard. The sun 
came out strongly. I had no hat and no water-bottle. 
I shouted and then listened. Only the moan of a jackal 
