300 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
after a successful hunt; therefore^ .when loose^ and 
perhaps disobedient to a call^ it will generally be 
recovered by exhibiting the much-loved spoon^ to 
which it returns, like a horse to a sieve of oats. 
We now uncarted a fresh cheetah, and were not 
kept long waiting before we came upon a lot of 
antelopes, most of which were females and young 
bucks. . At length, after careful stalking by driving 
the bullock-cart in an opposite direction to the herd, 
and then slightly turning to the left, in the endeavour 
to decrease our distance, we saw a fine buck stand¬ 
ing alone within loo yards, as we had not been 
observed while advancing through the scattered 
bush. 
The cheetah lost not a moment, but springing 
lightly to the ground, it was at full speed, and within 
50 yards before the unwary buck perceived it. 
Taken by surprise, instead of bounding off in mad 
retreat, this gallant little buck lowered its sharp- 
pointed horns and stood on the defence against the 
onset of its fierce antagonist. This was a pretty 
but a pitiable sight, as I knew that the odds were 
terribly against the buck ; but in another instant the 
actual encounter took place, and I was surprised to 
see how well the plucky buck conducted the defence. 
It actually charged the advancing cheetah, and 
stopped its rush. The cheetah held back, and 
again the buck rushed in ; but as we advanced, the 
poor little beast was evidently frightened at the 
people, and it turned to run. The moment that the 
cheetah saw its opportunity, it sprang forward; we 
