e, the only signs of life which it betrayed being a continuous
quivering of its nostrils and an occasional slight twitching of its
forward-pointing ears, while its enemy slunk sinuously toward it, foot
by foot, like a cat stalking a bird. At length the would-be destroyer
arrived within about twenty feet of its quarry--at which distance I
suspected that each animal was able to obtain at least an occasional
partial glimpse of the other--when it halted, and seemed to be gathering
itself together for a sudden rush, while the antelope still stood as
though rooted to the spot.

Why did not the latter take to its heels and run? I wondered. Was it
that the creature was paralysed with terror, and so unable to make any
effort to save itself? I thought not, for I could detect no sign of
terror; all the indications were in favour of the conviction that while
the antelope was undoubtedly fully aware of the close proximity of its
enemy, and was alertly watchful for the next movement on the part of the
latter, its attitude and aspect were in nowise suggestive of a feeling
of dismay--on the contrary, the idea conveyed to me was that of reckless
temerity. Yet surely the poor, misguided beast could never be so
foolish as to imagine that it stood the slightest chance of victory in
the event of a fight? I was not allowed very much time to ponder the
question, for, after a pause of about half a dozen seconds, the
lynx-like creature made a sudden lightning-like dash at the motionless
antelope, which I fully expected to see go down instantly, with the
formidable fangs of its enemy buried deep in its throat. Not so,
however, for as the lithe, spotted form darted through the grass the
antelope rose from the ground, as though shot into the air by a powerful
spring, descending fair and square upon its enemy's back, its four
sharp-pointed hoofs digging viciously through the spotted hide and
extorting a scream of mingled rage and pain from the astonished
assailant; and then, so quickly that the eye could hardly follow the
movement, a second vigorous leap landed the antelope fully twenty feet
away, while the power expended in the leap sent the screaming, snarling
enemy rolling and sprawling helplessly in the grass.

"Well done, antelope!" thought I. "Now is your chance to make a clean
bolt for it, before your enemy has time to recover from his amazement."

But not a bit of it; evidently the very last thing that the antelope
contemplated wa