having killed a lion."

"As you please; but even that would be better than being killed yourself
by a lion, and not returning at all. However, my opinion is that you
will have to kill a lion before you have traveled much further, without
going in quest of him. There are hundreds of them here; as many as there
are in Namaqua-land."

"Look, master!" said Bremen, pointing to seven or eight splendid
antelopes about a mile distant.

"I see," replied the Major. "What are they?"

"Gemsbok," said Swinton. "Now I will thank you for a specimen of that
beautiful creature, if you can get it for me. We must dismount, leave
our horses here, and crawl along from tree to tree, and bush to bush,
till we get within shot."

"They are, indeed, noble animals. Look at that large male, which appears
to be the leader and master of the herd. What splendid horns!" cried
Alexander.

"Give the horses to Omrah and Swanevelt. Bremen shall go with us. Hist;
not a word; they are looking in this direction." said the Major.

"Recollect to try for the large male. I want him most particularly,"
said Swinton.

"Master," said Bremen, "We must creep till we get those bushes between
us and the game. Then we can crawl through the bushes and get a good
shot."

"Yes, that will be the best plan," said Swinton. "As softly as we can,
for they are very shy animals."

They followed one another for two or three hundred yards, creeping from
one covert to another, till they had placed the bushes on the plain
between them and the herd. They then stopped a little and reconnoitered.
The herd of antelopes had left off feeding, and now had all their heads
turned toward the bushes, and in the direction where they were
concealed; the large male rather in advance of the others, with his long
horns pointing forward, and his nose close to the ground. Our party kept
silence for some time, watching the animals; but none of them moved much
from their positions; and as for the male, he remained as if he were a
statue.

"They must have scented us," whispered Alexander.

"No, sir," said Bremen; "the wind blows from them to us. I can't think
what they are about. But perhaps they may have seen us."

"At all events, we shall gain nothing by remaining here; we shall be
more concealed as we descend and approach them," observed the Major.

"That is true; so come along. Creep like mice," said Swinton.

They did so, and at last arrived at the patch of brushwood which was
b