304 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
At that same moment a cheetah that had been 
held in readiness leapt airily to the ground, and the 
chase commenced after the right-hand buck, which 
had a start of about i lo yards. The keeper simply 
begged us not to follow until he should give the 
word. 
It was a magnificent sight to see the extra¬ 
ordinary speed of both the pursued and the pursuer. 
The buck flew like a bird along the level surface, 
followed by the cheetah, who was laying out at full 
stretch, with its long, thick tail brandishing in the air. 
They had run about 200 yards, when the keeper 
gave the word, and away we went as hard as the 
horses could go over this first-class ground, where 
no danger of a fall seemed possible. I never saw 
anything to equal the speed of the buck and 
cheetah ; we were literally nowhere, although we 
were going as hard as horse-flesh could carry us, 
but we had a glorious view. 
The cheetah was gaining in the course, literally 
flying along the ground, while the buck was exerting 
every muscle for life or death in its last race. 
Presently, after a course of about a quarter of a mile, 
the buck doubled like a hare, and the cheetah lost 
ground as it shot ahead, instead of turning quickly, 
being only about 30 yards in the rear of the buck. 
Recovering itself, it turned on extra steam, and the 
race appeared to recommence with increased speed. 
The cheetah was determined to win, and at this 
moment the buck made another double, in the hope 
of shaking off its terrible pursuer ; but this time the 
