THE STORY OF THE ANTELOPE. 
259 
curveting around the wagons, wheeling about in endless circles and cutting 
all sorts of curious capers. 
While I was riding hard to obtain a shot at a herd in front of me, other 
herds charged down wind on my right and left, and, having described a 
number of circular movements, they took up position upon the very ground 
across which I had ridden only a few minutes before. Singly, and in small 
troops of four or five individuals, the old bull wildebeests may be seen 
stationed at intervals throughout the plains, standing motionless during a 
THE BLUE OR BRINDLED GNU. 
whole forenoon, coolly watching with a philosophic eye the movements of 
the other game, uttering a loud snorting noise, and also a short sharp cry 
which is peculiar to them. When the hunter approaches these old bulls, 
they commence whisking their long white tails in a most eccentric manner; 
then, springing into the air, begin prancing and capering, and pursue each 
other in circles at their utmost speed. Suddenly they all pull up together 
to overhaul the intruder, when the bulls will often commence fighting in 
the most violent manner, dropping on their knees at every shock; then, 
