ROAN ANTELOPE. 
199 
ers, is at the wagons, and we may go no farther till 
we get leave from head-quarters. We have had 
some thunder storms, which have been of vast benefit 
to the country. Game very scarce. On Friday I 
shot a tsessebe, and yesterday mounted on Luister, 
who has had no work for a long time, and is fat and 
fresh. I again fell in with a single roan antelope, 
and cannot deny myself the pleasure of giving a full 
account of the chase from first to last, as it will long 
live in my remembrance. 
I saw him first coming along at a swinging gallop, 
evidently startled by something, and endeavoured to 
cut him off, galloping hard and keeping a tree 
between us. I got within 100 yards, jumped off, and 
missed him like a man going broadside past me ; 
swallowed my disgust as well as I could, reloaded, 
and gave chase. A stern chase is always a long 
one, and at the end of about three miles I could not 
perceive I had gained a yard on him. The bush 
getting thicker, I rode 100 yards wide of him, hoping 
I might gain ground on him unperceived, and as he 
burst once more into the open I had bettered my 
position fully 100 yards, which he perceived and 
put on the steam once more, and I was just pulling 
up in despair when I saw his mouth open and heard 
his breath coming thick and fast on the wind. He 
was evidently much blown, but my good nag had 
likewise nearly all the puff taken out of him. The 
ground being frightfully stony, he had to change his 
legs, alter his stride, and hop about like peas on a 
