people that we were not far from our halting-place for
the day.
Accordingly I left Mrs. Baker with my horse and a
spare rifle to wait, while the party marched straight
o n ; I intended to make a circuit through the jungle
and to wait for the entrance of the herd, which she
was to drive, by simply riding through the plain and
leading my horse ; she was to bring the horse to me
should I fire a shot. After walking for about a mile in the
jungle parallel with the plain, I saw the herd of about
two hundred Tetel going at full gallop from the open
ground into the jungle, having been alarmed by the
Turks and the red flags, who had crossed over the
marsh. So shy were these antelopes that there was
no possibility of stalking them. I noticed however
that there were several waterbucks in the very centre
of the marsh, and that two or three trees afforded the
possibility of a stalk. Having the wind all right, I
succeeded in getting to a tree within about two hundred
and fifty yards of the largest buck, and lying down in
a dry trench that in the wet season formed a brook, I
crept along the bottom until I reached a tall tuft of
grass that was to be my last point of cover. Just as I
raised myself slowly from the trench I found the buck
watching me most attentively. , A steady shot with
my little No. 24 rifle took no effect-—it was too high r
-—the buck did not even notice the shot, which was I
suppose the first he had ever heard;—he was standing'
exactly facing me ; this is at all times an unpleasant
position for a shot. Seeing that he did not seem
disposed to move, I re-loaded without firing my
left-hand barrel. I now allowed for the high range
of the last shot; a moment after the report he sprang
into the air, then fell upon his knees and galloped off
on three legs;—one of the fore-legs being broken. I
had heard the sharp sound of the bullet, but the shot
was not very satisfactory. Turning to look for my
horse I saw Mrs. Baker galloping over the plain towards
me, leading Filfil, while Ri churn ran behind at
his best speed.
Upon her arrival I mounted Filfil, who was a fast
horse, and with my little No. 24 rifle in my hand I
rode slowly towards the wounded waterbuck, who was
now standing watching us at about a quarter of a
mile distant. However, before I had decreased my
distance by a hundred yards he started off in full
gallop. Putting Filfil into a'canter I. increased the
pace until I found that I must press him at full speed,
as the waterbuck, although on only three legs, had the
best of it. The ground was rough, having been marshy
and trodden into ruts by the game; but now dried by
the sun ;—bad for both horse and antelope, but espe