XXI 
AFRICAN ANTELOPES 
191 
There was no doubt that a herd was somewhere 
in his neighbourhood, therefore we waited behind 
some trees, and watched the attitude of the 
sentry. 
Presently we espied a doe, which emerged from 
the high grass, and walked carefully but inquiringly 
across the small open space, and then stood in a 
fixed position. We now crept upon hands and knees 
through the rustling herbage, as quietly as possible, 
in the hope of getting within 150 yards of the 
sentry. I had marked a particular tree as the spot 
to be reached which would afford concealment, 
and at the same time be within killing distance. 
It was trying work for the bare hands among the 
sharp stems of the coarse grass, but we reached 
our destination, and then cautiously rose, in 
expectation of seeing the sentry upon his elevated 
post. He was gone, together with the doe. We 
had been quite invisible, and the wind was in our 
favour; probably some bird, frightened at our 
advance, had flown hurriedly away, this would have 
been sufficient as a signal of hidden danger. 
We now threw off disguise, and walked direct 
towards the raised spot upon which the watchful 
tetel had taken its stand. There was a pile of 
droppings, of all dates, which proved that this was 
its daily resting-place in the middle of the green 
patch, that was regularly visited by the herd. 
While I was examining the signs, I observed my 
companion Shooli searching diligently among the 
young herbage, and he assured me that a calf must 
