These animals are remarkably quick of scent--though, by the way, it does not require much sensitiveness on that head to detect a Kaffir-- therefore the hunters wisely kept to the windward till they had the herd between themselves and the kloof; then suddenly they showed them to the browsing animals, which immediately fled from their pursuers in the direction of the ravine. As they would at times swerve from the right path, concealed Kaffirs started up, and with shouts headed them back. Apparently one path alone was left free to them, and on they sped till, with terrified yet graceful bounds, the poor creatures rushed into the kloof, apparently their only hope of safety. Then truly an exciting scene commenced; from every rock, from every bush there seemed, to spring the dusky form of a Kaffir, his shield and assagais in his left hand, and his right armed with one of the spears, which he generally sent with unerring aim at the flying antelopes. By much persuasion, I fancy, and with a great deal of doubt on the Kaffir's part, Tugela had procured me a shield and a few assagais; therefore though, when I had seen the graceful animals being driven on to their death, I had felt some pity, I must confess it vanished under the excitement of the occasion, and, from my ambush, I, with as good an aim as my bad knowledge and want of skill permitted, cast my weapons also into the terrified herd. Many fell in the death agonies; but the others, with the speed of light, dashed on to the other end of the ravine; hope, life seemed to be there for them. But not so--again they were doomed to disappointment. Suddenly an array of black figures starting up, barred their exit with assagais. Most of them fled wildly back again, while some, with a reckless bravery produced by fright, broke through the hunters' ranks, and, gaining the open plain, escaped,--at which my heart felt a sensation of pleasure; for enough is as good as a feast, all the world over, and surely there were sufficient of the poor creatures left to glut the appetite of even a Kaffir. It was indeed a most animating scene. The gloomy kloof, with its tropical vegetation--the dazzlingly blue sky, and intense sun overhead,--the sides of the ravine presenting, at every available point, the lithe form of the Kaffir, while beneath dashed the terror-stricken animals, or rolled here and there in the pangs of death. It was a magnificent battue I must own. During it I quite forgot my own uncertain position, and the fact that, in reality, I was as much in the power of the men about me as were the poor koodoos at my feet.