and ends in the
eland being shot down, skinned, and cut up. There is no great excitement
about this chase, except that it is not every day an eland can be
started. The ease with which they can be captured, as well as the value
of their venison, has led to the thinning off of these antelopes; and it
is only in remote districts where a herd of them can be found.

Now since their arrival, no elands had been seen, though now and then
their spoor was observed; and Hendrik, for several reasons, was very
desirous of getting one. He had never shot an eland in his life--that
was one reason--and another was, that he wished to procure a supply of
the fine venison which lies in such quantities over the ribs of these
animals.

It was, therefore, with great delight, that Hendrik one morning received
the report that a herd of elands had been seen upon the upper plain, and
not far off. Swartboy, who had been upon the cliffs, brought this report
to camp.

Without losing any more time than sufficed to get the direction from
Swartboy, Hendrik mounted his quagga, shouldered his rifle, and rode off
in search of the herd.

Not far from the camp there was an easy pass, leading up the cliff to
the plain above. It was a sort of gorge or ravine; and from the numerous
tracks of animals in its bottom, it was evidently much used as a road
from the upper plain to that in which were the spring and stream.
Certain animals, such as the zebras and quaggas, and others that
frequent the dry desert plains from preference, were in the habit of
coming by this path when they required water.

Up the gorge rode Hendrik; and no sooner had he arrived at its top, than
he discovered the herd of elands--seven old bulls--about a mile off upon
the upper plain.

There was not cover enough to have sheltered a fox. The only growth near
the spot where the elands were, consisted of straggling aloe plants,
euphorbias, with some stunted bushes, and tufts of dry grass,
characteristic of the desert. There was no clump large enough to have
sheltered a hunter from the eye of his game; and Hendrik at once came to
the conclusion, that the elands could not be "stalked" in the situation
they then occupied.

Now, though Hendrik had never hunted this antelope, he was well
acquainted with its habits, and knew how it ought to be chased. He knew
that it was a bad runner; that any old horse could bring up with it; and
that his quagga--the fastest of the four that had been tamed--