“Well, these three beasts, that they say are such good eating, weigh more than fifty antelopes.”
“More than fifty springboks, I grant. Well, what shall we do now?”
“Let our horses get their wind again, and then we will see if we can fall in with some new game.”
“I saw two or three antelopes, of a very different sort from the sassabys and harte-beests, towards that rising ground. We will go that way as soon as the Hottentots come up and take charge of our game.”
“Does Swinton want to preserve one of these creatures?”
“I believe not, they are so very bulky. He says we shall find plenty as we go on, and that he will not encumber the waggons with a skin until we leave the Vaal River, and turn homewards. Now, Bremen and Omrah, come with us.”
The Major and Alexander then turned their horses’ heads, and rode slowly towards the hill which they had noticed, and the antelopes that the Major had observed were now seen among the bushes which crowned the hill. Bremen said that he did not know the animals, and the Major was most anxious to obtain one to surprise Swinton with. As soon as they came within two hundred yards of the bushes on the other side of which the antelopes were seen, the Major gave his horse to Omrah and advanced alone very cautiously, that he might bring one down with his rifle. He gained the bushes without alarming the animals, and the party left behind were anxiously watching his motions, expecting him every moment to fire, when the Major suddenly turned round and came back at a hurried pace.
“What is the matter?” said Alexander.
“Matter enough to stop my growth for all my life,” replied the Major. “If ever my heart was in my mouth, it was just now. I was advancing softly, and step by step, towards the antelopes, and was just raising my rifle to fire, when I heard something flapping the ground three or four yards before me. I looked down, and it was the tail of a lioness, which fortunately was so busy watching the antelopes with her head the other way, that she did not perceive my being near her; whereupon I beat a retreat, as you have witnessed.”
“Well, what shall we do now?”