CHAP. XIX.] 
ANTELOPE SHOOTING. 
489 
convulsive bounds, and fell. His companion went off 
at full speed, and the left-hand barrel unfortunately 
broke his hind leg as the half-burnt reeds hindered a 
correct aim. Reloading, while my men bled the dead 
buck, I fired a long shot at the dense mass of antelopes 
who were now in full retreat at about 600 yards 
distance crowded together in thousands. I heard, or 
fancied I heard, the ball strike some object, and as the 
herd passed on, a reddish object remained behind that 
we could hardly distinguish, but on nearer approach I 
found a doe lying dead—she had been by chance 
struck by the ball through the neck at this great 
distance. The game being at full speed in retreat, my 
sport would have been over had we not at that moment 
heard shouts and yells exactly ahead of the vast herd 
of antelopes. At once they halted, and we perceived 
a number of natives, armed with spears and bows, who 
had intercepted the herd in their retreat, and who now 
turned them by their shouts exactly towards us. The 
herd came on at full speed; but seeing us, they slightly 
altered their line, and rushed along, thundering over 
the ground almost in single file, thus occupying a con¬ 
tinuous line of about half a mile in length. Running 
towards them at right angles for about a quarter of a 
mile, I at length arrived at a white ant-hill about ten 
feet high ; behind this I took my stand within about 
seventy yards of the string of antelopes that were 
filing by at full galop. I waited for a buck with fine 
horns. Several passed, but I observed better heads in 
their rear ;—they came bounding along. “ Crack ! ” 
went the rifle ; and a fine buck pitched upon his head. 
Again the little Fletcher spoke, and down went another 
within ten yards of the first. “ A spare gun, Richarn !” 
and Oswell’s Purdey was slipped into my hand. “Only 
one barrel is loaded,” said Richarn. I saw a splendid buck 
coming along with a doe by his side;—she protected 
him from the shot as they came on at right angles with 
the gun; but knowing that the ball would go through 
her and reach him on the other side, I fired at her 
