HUNTING IN THE SOTIK 
179 
mens that he was obliged to spend most of his time helping 
Heller; and they pressed into the work at times even Tarl- 
ton. Accordingly Kermit and I generally went off by our¬ 
selves, either together or separately. Once however Kermit 
went with Tarlton, and was as usual lucky with cheetahs, 
killing two. Tarlton was an accomplished elephant, buf¬ 
falo, and rhino hunter, but he preferred the chase of the lion 
to all other kinds of sport; and if lions were not to be found 
he liked to follow anything else he could gallop on horse¬ 
back. Kermit was also a good and hard rider. On this 
occasion they found a herd of eland, and galloped into it. 
The big bull they overhauled at once, but saw that his 
horns were poor and left him. Then they followed a fine 
cow with an unusually good head. She started at a rattling 
pace, and once leaped clear over another cow that got in 
her way; but they rode into her after a mile’s smart gallop 
—not a racing gallop by any means—and after that she 
was as manageable as a tame ox. Cantering and trotting 
within thirty yards of her on either quarter they drove 
her toward camp; but when it was still three-quarters of 
a mile distant they put up a cheetah, and tore after it; and 
they overtook and killed it just before it jeached cover. A 
cheetah with a good start can only be overtaken by hard 
running. This one behaved just as did the others they 
ran down. For quarter of a mile no animal in the world 
has a cheetah’s speed; but he cannot last. When chased 
the cheetahs did not sprint, but contented themselves with 
galloping ahead of the horses; at first they could easily 
keep their distance, but after a mile or two their strength 
and wind gave out, and then they always crouched flat to 
the earth, and were shot without their making any attempt 
