88 



" Now for the double rifle, one ball crashed through his ribs, 

 " another plunged into his shoulder, he only winced, and before 

 " Mansfield could re-load, he was off, making for the deep ravine 

 " before alluded to, but his gallant heart was sinking, his strength 

 " failed him before he reached the stronghold. He halted, and 

 " stood tottering beneath the shade of a tree. 



" The stag was now so close to the ravine, that Mansfield did 

 " not dare to venture on a long shot, at three hundred yards for 

 " fear of missing him, and the nature of the ground would not admit 

 " of his approaching any nearer. 



" For a full hour, by his watch, Mansfield kept sentry over his 

 " quarry, expecting every moment to see him drop. His heart 

 " smote him as he marked the laborious breathing of the poor 

 " animal. He felt disgusted with himself, as every one must have 

 " felt who has been forced to have recourse to such a scene of 

 " butchery in securing his game, and almost wished that the first 

 " shot had not been fired, but it was now too late to retract. The 

 " death of the poor animal was inevitable, and the sooner he was 

 " put out of pain the better. 



" Once the stag lay down, and then Mansfield fancied all was 

 " over ; but he rose again, and having ascertained by the aid of his 

 " glass, that the animal was gaining strength, rather than getting 

 " weaker, he determined upon risking a long shot. 



" The first ball fell short ; the second hit, bringing the animal on 

 " his knees, but the stag immediately regained his footing, made a 

 " rush rather than a run and disappeared in the dark ravine, for 

 " which he had been making from the first. 



" And this with seven balls through his body ! ! 



" Now we are aware that what we just narrated must appear to 

 " the reader very like an Indian story, and if he doubts our veracity 

 " we can hardly blame him. We have only to say that every parti- 

 " cular was noted down on the spot, and we have related them word 

 " for word as they occurred. Tired and dispirited, Mansfield aban- 

 " doned the pursuit, and retraced his weary steps towards the place 

 " where he had left his companions. 



