of several animals that we had scared away
clattering on the ground as they retreated.

"There they go already," cried Jack; "now let us look for a hillock of
some kind on which to take up our position."

"We shall not have to look far," said I, "for here seems a suitable spot
ready at our hand."

"Your eyes are sharp to-night, Ralph," observed Peterkin; "the place is
splendid, so let's to work."

Laying down our rifles, we drew our hunting-knives, and began to cut
down some of the underwood on the top of a small hillock that rose a
little above the surrounding bushes, and commanded a clear view of the
entire circumference of the pond. We selected this spot for the double
reason that it was a good point of observation and a safe retreat, as
animals coming to the pond to drink, from whatever quarter they might
arrive, would never think of ascending a hillock covered with bushes, if
they could pass round it.

Having cleared a space sufficiently large to hold us--leaving, however,
a thin screen of shrubs in front through which we intended to peep--we
strewed the ground with leaves, and lay down to watch with our loaded
rifles close beside us. We felt certain of seeing a good many animals,
for even during the process of preparing our unlace of retreat several
arrived, and were scared away by the noise we made.

Presently we heard footsteps approaching.

"There's something," whispered Peterkin.

"Ay," returned Jack. "What I like about this sort o' thing is your
uncertainty as to what may turn up. It's like deep-sea fishing. Hist!
look out."

The steps were rapid. Sometimes they clattered over what appeared to be
pebbly ground, then they became muffled as the animal crossed a grassy
spot; at last it trotted out of the shade of the bushes directly
opposite to us into the moonlight, and showed itself to be a beautiful
little antelope of the long-horned kind, with a little fawn by its side.
The two looked timidly round for a few seconds, and snuffed the air as
if they feared concealed enemies, and then, trotting into the water,
slaked their thirst together. I felt as great pleasure in seeing them
take a long, satisfactory draught as if I had been swallowing it myself,
and hoped they would continue there for some time; but they had barely
finished when the rapid gallop of several animals was heard, and scared
them away instantly.

The newcomers were evidently heavy brutes, for their tread was loud and
quite d