He had heard, that with the curious antelopes, strange forms or movements attract almost as much as glaring colours.

He remembered a trick that was said to be practised with success by the hunters.

It was easy enough, and consisted merely in the hunter standing upon his hands and head, and kicking his heels in the air! Now Hendrik happened to be one of those very boys who had often practised this little bit of gymnastics for amusement; and he could stand upon his head like an acrobat.
Without losing a moment he placed his rifle upon the ground, between his hands, and hoisting his feet into the air, commenced kicking them about, clinking them together, and crossing them in the most fantastic manner.
He had placed himself so that his face was turned towards the animals, while he stood upon his head.

Of course he could not see them while in this position, as the grass was a foot high; but, at intervals, he permitted his feet to descend to the earth; and then, by looking between his legs, he could tell how the ruse was succeeding.
It _did_ succeed.

The buck, on first perceiving the strange object, uttered a sharp whistle, and darted off with the swiftness of a bird-- for the "ourebi" is one of the swiftest of African antelopes.