On seeing the "gemsbok"--for by such name is the oryx known to the Cape
colonists--the first thought of the young yagers was how they should
kill or capture one of them. Beautiful as these creatures looked upon
the plain, our hunters would have fancied them better on the spit--for
they well knew that the venison of the gemsbok is delicious eating--not
surpassed by that of any other antelope, the eland perhaps excepted.
The first thought of the yagers, then, was a steak of gemsbok venison
for dinner. It might throw their dinner a little later, but it would be
so much of a better one than dry biltong, that they were willing to
wait.
The slices of jerked meat, already half-broiled, were at once put aside,
and guns were grasped in the place of roasting-sticks.
What was the best course to be pursued? That was the next question.
It would scarce be possible to stalk the gemsboks. They are among the
most wary of antelopes. They rarely approach near any cover that might
shelter an enemy; and when alarmed they strike off in a straight line,
and make for the open desert plains--their natural home. To stalk them,
is a most difficult thing, and rarely attempted by the hunter. They can
only be captured by a swift horse, and after a severe chase. Even from
the swiftest horse they often make their escape; for in the first burst
of a mile or two they can run like the wind. A good horse, however, has
more "bottom" than they, and if well managed will in time overtake them.
The hunters having seized their guns, next thought of their horses.
Should they saddle and ride out after the gemsboks? That would have
been their course at once, and without further consideration, had they
not observed that the antelopes were coming directly towards them. If
they continued in the same course much longer, they, the yagers, need
not stir from the spot. The game would approach within shot and save
them the trouble of a chase. This would be very agreeable, as the
hunters were hungry, and their horses tired after a hard day's
journeying.
There was some probability that the gemsboks would give them the chance
they wished for. The camp was well hidden among the bushes. The smoke
of the fire alone showed its situation, but the antelopes might not
perceive this, or if so, might not regard it as a thing to be feared.
Besides, as Groot Willem and Hendrik observed, the vley was close by,
and both believed the antelopes were on their way to the water. The
student Hans, however, corrected them in this belief, by telling them
that the oryx is an animal _that never drinks_,--that it is quite
independent of springs, streams, or vleys,--one of those creatures which
Nature has formed to dwell in the desert, where no water exists! It was
not likely then that the gemsboks were coming to the vley. The hunters
need make no calculation on that.
At all events, they were certainly approaching the camp. They were
heading straight for it, and were already less than a thousand yards
from the spot. There would scare be time to saddle before they should
come within shot, or else start off alarmed at the appearance of the
smoke. The hunters, therefore, gave up all thoughts of a chase; and,
crouching forward to the outer edge of the grove, they knelt down behind
the bushes to await the approach of the antelopes.
The latter still kept steadily on, apparently unconscious of danger.
Surely they had not yet perceived the smoke, else they would have shown
symptoms either of curiosity or alarm! The wind was blowing in the same
direction in which they marched, or their keen sense of smell would have
warned them of the dangerous proximity of the hunter's camp. But it did
not; and they continued with slow but unaltered pace to approach the
spot, where no less than six dark muzzles--a full battery of small
arms--were waiting to give them a volley.
It was not the destiny of either of the gemsboks to die by a leaden
bullet. Death, sudden and violent awaited them, though not from the
hand of man. It was to come from a different quarter.
As the yagers lay watching the approach of the antelopes, their eyes had
wandered for a moment from the lions; but a movement on the part of
these again drew attention to them. Up to a certain period they had
remained in an upright attitude, squatted upon their tails, but all at
once they were observed to crouch flat down, as if to conceal themselves
under the grass, while their heads were turned in a new direction. They
were turned towards the gemsboks. They had caught sight of the latter
as they approached over the plain; and it was evident that they
contemplated an attack upon them.
Now if the antelopes continued on in the same course, it would carry
them quite clear of the lions, so that the latter would have no
advantage. A gemsbok can soon scour off from a lion, as the latter is
at best but a poor runner, and secures his prey by a sudden spring or
two, or else not at all. Unless, therefore, the lions could obtain the
advantage of getting within bounding distance of the antelopes without
being seen by them, their chances of making a capture would be poor
enough.
They knew this, and to effect that purpose--that of getting near--now
appeared to be their design. The lion was observed to crawl off from
the spot in a direction that would enable him to get upon the path of
the gemsboks, between them and the camp. By a series of manoeuvres,--
now crawling flat along the grass, like a cat after a partridge; now
pausing behind a bush or an ant-heap to survey the game; then trotting
lightly on to the next,--he at length reached a large ant-hill that
stood right by the path in which the antelopes were advancing. He
seemed to be satisfied of this, for he stopped here and placed himself
close in to the base of the hill, so that only a small portion of his
head projected on the side towards the game. His whole body, however,
and every movement he made, were visible to the hunters from _their_
ambush in the grove.
But where was the lioness? She was no longer by the _bosch_ where first
seen. Where had she gone? Not with the lion? No. On the contrary,
she had gone in a direction nearly opposite to that taken by him. Their
eyes had been busy with his movements, and they had not noticed hers.
Now, however, that the lion had come to a halt, they looked abroad for
his mate, and saw her far out upon the plain. They saw that she was
progressing in the same way the lion had done,--now crawling among the
grass, now trotting swiftly from bush to bush, and pausing a moment
behind each, but evidently bending her course so as to arrive _in the
rear_ of the antelopes!
The "strategy" of the lions was now perceived. They had evidently
planned it before separating. The lion was to place himself in ambush
upon the path, while the lioness swept round to the rear and forced the
antelopes forward; or should the latter become alarmed and retreat, the
lion could then show himself in pursuit, and run the frightened game
back into the clutches of the lioness.
The thing was well calculated, and although it was likely to rob the
hunters of their game, they had grown so interested in the movements of
the carnivora and their intended victims, that they thought only of
watching the spectacle to its end.
The ambuscade was well planned, and in a few minutes its success was no
longer doubtful. The gemsboks advanced steadily towards the ant-hill,
occasionally switching about their black bushy tails; but that was to
rid their flanks of the flies, and not from any apprehension of danger.
The lioness had completed the great _detour_ she had made, and was now
seen crouching after them, though still far to the rear.
As the antelopes drew near the ant-hill, the lion was observed to draw
back his head until it was nearly concealed under his black shaggy mane.
They could not possibly have seen him where he lay, nor he them, and he
now appeared to trust to his ears to inform him of their approach.
He waited till both were opposite, and broadside toward him, at the
distance of less than twenty paces from the hill. Then his tail was
seen to vibrate with one or two quick jerks, his head shot suddenly
forth, his body spread out apparently to twice its natural size, and the
next moment he rose like a bird into the air!
With one bound he cleared the wide space that separated him from the
nearest of the gemsboks, alighting on the hind-quarters of the terrified
animal. A single blow of his powerful paw brought the antelope on its
haunches; and another, delivered almost at the same instant, stretched
its body lifeless on the plain!
Without looking after the other, or seeming to care further about it,
the lion sprang upon the body of his victim, and, clutching its throat
between his jaws, commenced drinking its warm blood.
It was the bull gemsbok which the lion had pulled down, as this was the
one that happened to be nearest the hill.
As the lion sprang upon her companion, the cow of course started with
affright, and all supposed they would see her the next moment scouring
off over the plains. To their astonishment she did no such thing. Such
is not the nature of the noble oryx. On the contrary, as soon as she
recovered from the first moments of alarm, she wheeled round towards the
enemy; and, lowering her head to the very ground, so that her long horns
projected horizontally in front, she rushed with all her strength upon
the lion! The latter, in full enjoyment of his red draught, saw nothing
of this manoeuvre. The first intimation he had of it was to feel a pair
of spears pierced right through his ribs, and it is not likely he felt
much more.
For some moments a confused struggling was observed, in which both lion
and oryx seemed to take part; but the attitudes of both appeared so odd,
and changed so rapidly, that the spectators could not tell in what
manner they were combating. The roar of the lion however had ceased,
and was now succeeded by the more shrill tones of the lioness, who,
bounding forward upon the spot, mixed at once in the melee.
A single touch of her claws brought the cow oryx to the earth, and ended
the strife; and the lioness now stood over the victims screaming her
note of triumph.
Was it a note of triumph? There was something odd in its tone--
something singular in the movements of the creature that uttered it--
something strange about the whole thing. Why was the lion silent? His
roar had ceased, and he lay embracing the carcass of the bull gemsbok,
and apparently drinking its blood. Yet he was perfectly without motion,
not a muscle could be seen to move, not a quiver of his tawny hide
betokened that he breathed or lived! Was he dead?