, Lionel keeping close after him. Gozo galloped off to the
right, intending apparently to get ahead of the herd, and turn them, so
as to drive them back and enable the lads with more ease to shoot one or
two down. The chase was exciting in the extreme. The wildebeests at
first ran well ahead of their pursuers.

"We shall soon be up to them!" cried Denis. "They'll not keep at that
pace long together, you'll see."

He was right, for after a run of a couple of miles the animals began to
slacken their speed, and at length Gozo was seen far away in the
distance, and well ahead, gradually nearing them.

"We'll stop here," cried Denis, as they came to some thick bushes. "We
can conceal ourselves, and the wildebeests won't mind the horses, even
if they see them."

He and Lionel dismounted, placing their horses behind the bushes, with
their reins on the ground, a sign to the well-trained animals that they
were not to move from the spot. Percy soon came up, and followed their
example. They then knelt down so as to be completely concealed. The
herd, now turned by Gozo, came galloping back, not apparently
frightened, and in no hurry, for Gozo having accomplished his object,
had pulled in his rein so as to allow them to move at a moderate rate.
On the animals came, lashing their sides with their flowing tails.
Sometimes their leader would break away from the ranks, paw the ground,
apparently determined to make a headlong charge, should an enemy appear;
then suddenly he would face about and rejoin the herd. Then the whole,
which had stopped for a short time, would again dash off in wild
confusion, enveloping themselves in a cloud of dust which almost
completely hid them from view. The young hunters waited with no little
anxiety, lest they should take another direction, but on they came
towards the bush, which they were about to pass when Denis whispered to
Lionel to fire at the second, while he would take the leader.

"Percy, do you aim at the third; I feel sure you'll hit him in the
breast."

Percy could not help smiling, for he felt far from sure of doing
anything of the sort, anxious as he was to succeed. The lads held their
breath. Denis was the first to fire, and a loud thud told him that his
shot had taken effect. Directly afterwards Lionel and Percy pulled
their triggers, but with what effect they could not tell, for the herd,
frightened by the report, began kicking up the dust, as they scampered
off, in a