This species is quite independent of water, grows fat on arid plains, where any other antelope would starve to death, and is so fleet and enduring, and so very alert and watchful besides, that it is almost impossible to shoot one of them. By the time he had completed his examination the Kaffir came up.
"Go and get my horse," said Oscar, "and then take this fellow up in front of you, and lead the way toward the wagon. We'll go home. A koodoo and an oryx in two days ought to satisfy anybody. I had a snap shot at a buffalo, but I didn't bring him down."
When Oscar came to retrace his steps he found that he had ridden much further away from the wagon than he supposed.
He did not see any landmarks that were familiar to him until he reached the hill on which he had shot the sentinel koodoo, and then it lacked only an hour of being dark.
As they were riding over this hill the Kaffir suddenly stopped, and without saying a word pointed before him with his finger.
Oscar turned his head, and saw some animal lying under a tree that stood in the edge of the nearest grove.
"What is it?" he asked in a cautious whisper. "It cannot be an elephant or a rhinoceros!"
"No," answered the after-rider. "Buffalo. Bad hurt. Look out!"
"Oh! that's my old friend, is it?" exclaimed the boy. "I'll see if I can't make a better shot this time."