244 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS 



in good style, and only two or three refused. These were 

 not allowed to feed until they had jumped the wall. 



Thursday, 19th. — In the low hills beyond the town of 

 Ulwar are a few sarnbhur deer ; and Alan wished to add 

 their big horns to his trophies. The sarnbhur is something 

 like a red deer, and about the same size. His antlers are 

 as big, but beside the brow points he has only two tines on 

 each horn. They dwell in high grass and thick jungle on 

 the hills, and are usually shot by driving with a long line 

 of beaters and elephants. But the Archduke of Austria 

 is coming here to shoot next month, and if these jungles 

 were beaten now it would take away all chance of finding 

 a tiger for him. So Colonel Fraser sent Alan to walk 

 with old Hermiron Singh, and take his chance of getting 

 a shot. It was like searching for a needle in a bundle 

 of hay, but by good luck they did come on a herd. Alan 

 could just see a stag's horns above the grass. It was 

 about a hundred yards off, as far as he could judge, for 

 its body was completely hidden. 



Thinking the stag's head was turned towards them, 

 Alan aimed low beneath the horns, — fired, and missed. 

 On going up, the stag appeared to have been standing 

 with its tail towards them, and they found the mark 

 of the bullet on the ground between the footprints. They 

 walked all day, but never saw another deer. 



"When they left the hill, and were riding homewards 



