A STALK AT SUNRISE. 75 



the left. We took up a favourable position just on the 

 edge of the forest to watch the ground, but nothing was in 

 sight. Just as the sun was about a spear's length above the 

 horizon, Rahman espied a stag with three hinds feeding on 

 the hill below us, and about a mile off. Although what 

 little wind there was blew from the right quarter, it was 

 impossible to approach them, as the ground was smooth 

 turf without the least cover, and we should have to descend 

 at least a quarter of a mile full in their view. I suggested 

 that we should go back, and then round the hill on our left, 

 and by a long detour get directly above where they stood. 

 The wind was favourable, but Rahman thought it better to 

 wait where we were on the chance of their feeding on to a 

 better position. It would have been a very long rough 

 walk round, so I not unwillingly gave in. Presently, how- 

 ever, they lay down, except one hind, which stood on guard 

 watching the hill side, aud I began to think my plan would 

 have been the better. However, in about half-an-hour they 

 again got up, and slowly descended the hill, grazing as 

 they went. In a, short time they reached a small ravine, 

 down which they disappeared from sight. 



"There was a projecting spur below us, behind which 

 we ran, and creeping carefully through the rocks at top, 

 at last got to within some three hundred yards of the 

 herd. They were still moving on slowly, the stag behind, 

 and I could make him out to be a fine beast with nine or 



