ace that we approached--a multitude of
tough, fern-like plants were sprouting from the interstices, affording
excellent hold for the hands; therefore, dismounting and handing my
horse's bridle to Piet, and bidding him remain where he was, in the
shadow of the rock, I took my rifle in one hand, and with the small but
very powerful telescope which I always carried when out after game slung
over my shoulder, proceeded to scale the kopje.

Reaching its summit without difficulty, I found, as I had expected, that
my lofty perch afforded a magnificent outlook over the plain in every
direction. The ostriches whose movements I particularly desired to
watch were now in plain view, and with the aid of my telescope I could
not only distinguish the cocks from the hens, but could also perceive
that the plumage of the former was in the very pink of perfection. But,
in addition to the ostriches, there were several other exceedingly
interesting objects and sights clearly distinguishable from the summit
of the kopje, of which no hint was obtainable from the level of the
plain below.

For instance, upon removing the telescope from my eye, after an
exhaustive study of the movements and behaviour of the great birds, I
allowed my gaze to travel over the surface of the grassy plain
immediately before me, and presently became aware of a solitary
antelope, of a species which was quite new to me, grazing at a distance
of some two hundred yards from the base of the kopje. The creature was
about the size of a bushbok, was a dirty white in colour, and carried a
pair of horns about two and a half feet in length, slightly curved,
enormously thick at the base, strongly ridged for about half their
length, and thence sweeping smoothly away to points as sharp apparently
as those of bayonets. The most curious thing about it, however, was
that its coat was long and thick, like that of a goat, but apparently
very much finer and more silky; and I was speculating upon the
possibility of capturing and domesticating a few specimens, with the
view of testing the commercial value of the hair, when suddenly the
animal ceased feeding, threw up its head, twitched its long ears
nervously to and fro, and proceeded to sniff the air anxiously, turning
its head hither and thither as it did so.

Finally it faced right round, almost broadside-on to me, and stood
motionless, very erect, and with its body seemingly braced in readiness
to bound away upon confirmation o