Part 82 (1/2)

The flesh of the eland is highly esteemed, and does not yield in delicacy to that of any of the antelope, deer, or bovine tribes It has been coahs when cured and dried produce a _bonne bouche_, known under the odd appellation of ”thigh-tongues”

Of course the eland affording such excellent e a quantity, is zealously hunted for his spoils Being only a poor runner and always very fat, the hunt is usually a short one; 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 hich 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 aniht, that Hendrik onereceived 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 caet the direction froa, shouldered his rifle, and rode off in search of the herd

Not far fro 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 fro and streaas, and others that frequent the dry desert plains fro 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 h to have sheltered a fox The only growth near the spot where the elands were, consisted of straggling aloe plants, euphorbias, with sorass, characteristic of the desert There was no cluh to have sheltered a hunter froame; 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 ell acquainted with its habits, and kne 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--could do the same

It was only a question of ”start,” therefore Could he get near enough the bulls to have a fair start, he would run one of theht be different should the elands take the alar distance off, and scour away over the plain

To get within fair starting distance, that was the point to be attempted

But Hendrik was a wary hunter, and soon acco direct for the elands, he ot the herd between hia for them, he rode quietly forward

He did not sit erect in the saddle, but held himself bent down, until his breast ala This he did to deceive the elands, ould otherwise have recognised him as an enemy

In such a fashi+on they could nottowards thea with feelings of curiosity, and of course some little alaret within five hundred yards distance--near enough for hiallop

Hendrik now rose in his saddle, put spurs to his quagga, and followed the herd at full speed

As he had designed, so it caht in the direction of the cliff--not where the pass was, but where there was none--and, on reaching the precipice, were of course forced to turn into a new direction, transverse to their for his quagga diagonally, was soon upon the heels of the herd

It was Hendrik's intention to single out one of the bulls, and run hiallop off wherever they wished

His intention was carried out; for shortly after, the fattest of the bulls shot to one side, as if to escape in that hile the rest ran on

The bull was not so cunning as he thought hia was turned upon his track

Another burst carried both game and pursuer nearly a mile across the plain The eland had turned from a rufous dun colour to that of a leaden blue; the saliva fell fro streamers, foa eyes, and his gallop becaed to a weary trot He was evidently ”blown”

In a few a was close upon his heels; and then the huge antelope, seeing that farther running could not serve him, halted in despair, and faced round towards his pursuer

Now Hendrik had his loaded rifle in his hand, and you expect to hear that he instantly raised it to his shoulder, took aiht down the eland

Iyou that he did no such thing