The Bay. 165 



the fall, which was about fifty feet deep. A large flat 

 rock projected from the side of the clifT, forming a plat- 

 form of about six feet square, over one corner of which 

 the water struck and again bounded downward. This 

 platform could only be reached by a narrow ledge of 

 rock, beneath which, at a depth of thirty feet, the water 

 boiled at the foot of the fall. Upon this platform stood 

 the buck, having gained his secure but frightful posi- 

 tion by passing along the narrow ledge of rock. 

 Should either dog or man attempt to advance, one 

 charge from the buck would send them'to perdition, as 

 they would fall into the abyss below. This the dogs 

 were fully aware of, and they accordingly kept up a 

 continual bay from the edge of the clifT, while I at- 

 tempted to dislodge him by throwing stones and sticks 

 upon him from above. Finding this uncomfortable, he 

 made a sudden dash forward, and, striking the dogs 

 over, away he went down the steep sides of the ravine, 

 followed once more by the dogs and myself. 



By clinging from tree to tree and lowering myself 

 by the tangled creepers, I was soon at the foot of the 

 first fall, which plunged into a deep pool on a flat 

 plateau of rock bounded on either side by a wall-like 

 precipice. 



This plateau was about eighty feet in length, through 

 which the water flowed in two rapid but narrow streams 

 from the foot of the first fall toward a second cataract 

 at the extreme end. This second fall leaped from the 

 centre of the ravine into the lower plain. 



When I arrived on this fine level surface of rock, a 

 splendid sight presented itself. In the centre of one of 

 the rapid streams the buck stood at bay, belly-deep, with 

 the torrent rushing in foam between his legs. His mane 



