1 74 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



incurable. An instance occurred a short time ago 

 when I certainly gave up one of the best dogs for lost 

 We had found a buck, who after a sharp run came to 

 bay in a deep part of the river known by the name of 

 Black Pool. My youngest brother (who is always my 

 companion in hunting) and I were at some distance, 

 but feeling certain of the locality of the bay, we started 

 off at full speed toward the supposed spot. A run of a 

 mile, partly through jungle leading into a deep wooded 

 ravine, brought us to the river, which flowed through 

 the hollow, and upon approaching the water we dis- 

 tinctly heard the pack at bay at some distance down 

 the stream. Before we could get up, the buck dashed 

 down the river, and turning sharp up the bank he took 

 up the hill through a dense jungle. Every hound was 

 at fault, except two, who were close at his heels, and 

 being very fast they never lost sight of him. These two 

 dogs were Merriman and Tiptoe ; and having followed 

 the whole pack to their track, we soon heard them in 

 full cry on the top of the high hills which overlook the 

 river ; they were coming down the hill-side at full 

 speed toward the Black Pool. Hiding behind the 

 trees lest we should head the buck, who we now heard 

 crashing toward us through the jungle, we suddenly 

 caught a glimpse of his dun hide as he bounded past us 

 and splashed into the river. A few seconds after, and 

 Tiptoe, the leading hound, came rushing on his track, 

 but to our horror he was dragging his entrails after 

 him. The excitement of the chase recognized no pain, 

 and the plucky animal actually plunged into the river, 

 and in spite of his mangled state he swam across and 

 disappeared in the jungle on the opposite side upon the 

 track which the elk had taken. The pack now closed 



