DIPLOMACY V. LUCK. 225 



respective wagons, whilst the drivers sat round a little fire 

 and sucked their pipes. One characteristic point about a 

 native is that he never puts himself out when discovered in 

 an untruth. Indeed, the bigger the lie, the better he seems 

 pleased. 



Alan managed to get a black buck, although they were 

 extremely wild. They are much shot at, as the military 

 station of Muttra is so near. After several unsuccessful 

 attempts to get a shot, he saw a good buck about half a mile 

 away, standing just outside a field. Riding, as usual, in the 

 opposite direction until he was out of sight, he dismounted, 

 and put a native rug cloak-fashion over his head and 

 shoulders. 



A ryot happened to be ploughing close by, and a small 

 bribe induced him to gradually manoeuvre his plough and 

 oxen in the direction of the buck. Alan walked alongside, 

 carefully concealing his rifle and face. But the buck 

 apparently suspected some trick, and kept slowly walking 

 on out of range. At last, by pretending to turn the oxen 

 back and circling round, they managed to get within about 

 a hundred yards. Alan knelt down to take a steady shot, 

 telling the man to keep his oxen moving so as to attract the 

 buck's attention. Of course he did just the contrary, and 

 stopped them short. The buck at once started off at a 

 gallop, but by a luck}- shot Alan rolled him over dead. 

 Friday. — We started at G a.m. in a thick white fog. 



