hall go with us.
Hist; not a word; they are looking in this direction," said the Major.

"Recollect to try for the large male. I want him most particularly,"
said Swinton.

"Master," said Bremen, "we must creep till we get those bushes between
us and the game. Then we can crawl through the bushes and get a good
shot."

"Yes, that will be the best plan," said Swinton. "As softly as we can,
for they are very shy animals."

They followed one another for two or three hundred yards, creeping from
one covert to another till they had placed the bushes on the plain
between them and the herd. They then stopped a little and reconnoitred.
The herd of antelopes had left off feeding, and now had all their heads
turned towards the bushes, and in the direction where they were
concealed; the large male rather in advance of the others, with his long
horns pointing forward, and his nose close to the ground. Our party
kept silence for some time, watching the animals; but none of them moved
much from their positions; and as for the male, he remained as if he
were a statue.

"They must have scented us," whispered Alexander.

"No, sir," said Bremen; "the wind blows from them to us. I can't think
what they are about. But perhaps they may have seen us."

"At all events, we shall gain nothing by remaining here; we shall be
more concealed as we descend and approach them," observed the Major.

"That is true; so come along. Creep like mice," said Swinton.

They did so, and at last arrived at the patch of brushwood which was
between them and the antelopes, and were now peeping and creeping to
find out an opening to fire through, when they heard a rustling within.
Bremen touched the sleeve of the Major and beckoned a retreat, and
motioned to the others; but before they could decide, as they did not
know why the Hottentot proposed it, for he did not speak himself, and
put his hand to his mouth as a hint to them to be silent, a roar like
thunder came from the bushes, within three yards of them, accompanied
with a rushing noise which could not be mistaken. It was the roar and
spring of a lion; and they looked round amazed and stunned, to ascertain
who was the victim.

"Merciful Heaven!" exclaimed Alexander, "and no one hurt!"

"No, master; lion spring at antelope. Now we shall find him on other
side of the bush, and kill him easy, when his eyes are shut."

Bremen led the way round the copse, followed by our travellers; they
soo