The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-11-09
SPORT In THE VELDT.
a TALE OF CUNNING THAT WILL
WARM A HUNTERS BLOOD.


Fellows Wagon Life In wild Country
innocent Of Farms and r<ncss-No Heavy
Closhing TO EneumbeP the Hunter.
Wagon life in tho South African in
terror has Of course its drawback yet
in . climate where for about seven
mouths absolutely settled weather may
be relied upon its pleasures outnumber
them so to |. To mount ones pony ON
clear bright morning; to ride forth
into the veldt with friend and brace
Of pointers with the blessed feeling
that you have not . care in the world
beyond the march Of your wagon to the
next water; to be absolutely certain of
some pretty shooting in a wild country
innocent Of farms and fences; to return
to camp toward evening with perhaps
10 or l3 brace Of birds and small buck
these things. to the average healthy
male, seem as near perfection as may BE-
found in this vale Of tears
1t is 8 o'clock on bright April morn
ing in South Bechuanaland The air is
full Of light brisk and wonderfully ex
hilarating. Four gunners have just
breakfasted under the Ice Of their wag
ON. Now. having mounted their ponies
the average South African horse is
seldom more than II hands-they ride
quietly down the hither side Of the
shallow valley-''laagte. it is called In
these parts-wherein they were out
SPAWNED, and climb the farther rise.
IL is q picturesque scene The slopes
are clothed with y long growth Of wav-
ing grass. now greenish yellow after
the rains, amid which great powders Of
dark red rock crop up Here and there
small patches Of blue green bush start
out from the grassy veldt Beyond.
browning the valley. begins thickish
woodland of short trees-bastard yellow
| wood, the Beers call them-which ex-
tends for some miles in front, till the
great open plains are again reached. As
the gunners ride up the farther slope
their wagon is already in motion behind
them, starting upon its days trek. II
| miles to the next water. Through the
clear. nimble air comes the crack OF
the drivers great whip and his shrill
cries. hurled at the oxen, and the I'M
l Wlcluy uUIuC VII wuCtlS u ushSS SAoWAy
through the yielding sand. But now the
gunners have spread out in line. and
the pointers are already busy. Near
some powders one Of the dogs feathers
little, then stands, rigid as a figure OF
bronze. The two nearest gunners dis
mount They already carry their guns
and bandoliers and ride, as men do il
the veldt, in their flannel shirts with
their sleeves well rolled up the arms
There is little to cucumber their move
ments. Brooches, CATERS and stou
boots. shirt and shady hat are al
that a man needs in Africa
The reins are thrown over the ponies
necks and hang in front Of them, ant
the nags will stand quietly for hours
, Now the gunners are close upon th'
, pointer, still standing with rigid tai
! and outstretched neck. These francolin
lie close in the long grass. Where tn
deuce On a sudden mp spring thre'
; brown birds within five feet Of tn
t sportsmen. Twenty yards Of law. tn
guns are up, two light reports from
smokeless cartridges, and brace Of tn
birds hit the earth. Almost instantly
/ third report follows, and the near gun
= ner has secured his right and left, not
0 difficult matter with these francolin.
q But the pointer is not yet content
Another brace Of birds is found an
brought to bag within 30 yards. Tn
cartridges are now gathered They prov
to be the small Coqui francolin-
"N'swimpi' the natives call them
. perhaps the most beautiful game bird
: in the world. As one Of them lies in tn
gunner's palm for few moments. tn
bright rankin yellow and orange Of tn
y head, the clear, hawklike markings G
, the breast and the beautiful shape an
" feathering mark this partridge Of Afric
as a gem among its fellows. The bird
are bestowed in q saddlebag, and tn
gunners mount and ride into the flores
on the right hand side Of the WACO
u road. Meanwhile their comrades hav
entered the woodland more to the lei
= hand, and their guns can be heard a
ready going
e For two hours the sportsmen quietl
y walk their horses through the fores
moving due west. Once their point.
gets into a small troop OF guinea foH
delving for bulbs, and after q SINAI
. chase drives three Of them into a tire.
= whence, as they fly of. the guuners 81
cure them easily enough
;, At length, after picking up few bu
terfiies in the forest clearings, for the
carry q net, our gunners emerge upo
broad, rolling. sun drenched plain
covered with long. pale yellow grass
- Through these they ride steadily hor
!. after hour. picking up every now an
"a again a head or two Of game. Now il
!. . brace Of big red wing partridge tOl
ange river francolinI; now one Of thos
!. annoying yet handsome game birds, tn
= black and white bustard-zwart kool
!. ham, the Beers call him-whose yer
:, noisy and chiding ways are familia
. everywhere in open veldt in South Al
RIGA Now. after keeDest search. leas
Of tiny bush quail are flushed and 50
!, cured, one after the other having litel
ally to be- kicked up. A hare and sol
;. itary ''dikkop knee plover-ar
4 added to the growing bag. Cor. LoI
!, don Review.