Wihare-welle. 143 



herds of deer ; but not wishing to disturb the country, 

 I did not fire, but returned to the tent and sent out 

 trackers. 



In the afternoon the natives returned with intelligence 

 of a small pool two miles from the opposite shore of 

 the lake, situated in dense jungle ; here they had seen 

 fresh elephant tracks, and they proposed that we should 

 watch the pool that evening at the usual drinking hour 

 of the game. As this was the only pool of water for 

 miles round with the exception of the lake, I thought 

 the plan likely to succeed, and we therefore started 

 without loss of time. 



On arrival at the pool we took a short survey of out 

 quarters. A small round sheet of water of perhaps 

 eighty yards in diameter lay in the midst of a dense 

 jungle. Several large trees were growing close to the 

 edge, and around, these lay numerous rocks of about 

 four feet high, forming a capital place for concealment. 

 Covering the tops of the rocks with boughs to conceal 

 our heads, we lay quietly behind them in expectation ot 

 the approaching game. 



The sun sank, and the moon rose in great beauty, 

 throwing a silvery light upon the surface of the water 

 chequered by the dark shadows of the surrounding 

 trees. Suddenly the hoarse bark of an elk sounded with- 

 in a short distance, and I could distinguish two or three 

 dark forms on the opposite bank. The shrill and con- 

 tinual barking of spotted deer now approaching nearei 

 and nearer, the rustling in the jungle and the splashing 

 in the water announced continual arrivals of game to 

 the lonely drinking-place. Notwithstanding the im- 

 mense quantity of animals that were congregated to- 

 gether, we could not distinguish them plainly on accoun* 



