io6 A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN. 



than my big buck or any killed during the 

 expedition. The foolish beast stood broadside 

 on at fifty paces, and with a rare self-denial, 

 worthy of a good sportsman, Captain S. let him 

 go without firing at him, rather than risk dis- 

 turbing the nobler game we were in search of. 

 Now, looking back, I can only regret that the 

 buck's head was not added to my friend's trophies, 

 for immediately afterwards C. and I sighted a 

 band of small ewes on the bare slopes to the left 

 of the ' crater.' To my surprise C. at once 

 began to ride hard. To my remark that there 

 were no good heads amongst them, I got no 

 answer ; and as C.'s object was evident, I joined 

 in the chase, determined that if the law of the 

 day was to be ' Shoot at everything, and devil 

 take the hindmost,' I would do my best not to 

 occupy that invidious position. Alas ! as the 

 horses faced the incline, I felt my screw's powers 

 fade away, until the swinging stride slackened to 

 a walk, and a hideous roaring informed me that 

 my poor beast was broken-winded. So C. got 

 in first ; the foolish ewes, getting thoroughly 

 confused and standing in a bunch, huddled to- 

 gether as stupidly as if they had been domestic 

 Shropshire downs, whilst ' the native ' dismounted 

 and ' pumped lead into them ' at about 100 yards' 

 range. When I came up he had secured three, 



