2l6 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



and in an instant he was on his nose, turning a complete 

 somersault. I was pitched some yards, and upon in- 

 stinctively mounting again, the sparks were dancing in 

 my eyes for some seconds before I recovered myself, as 

 we again continued the chase with unabated speed. 



We pressed along up some rising ground, having 

 lost sight of the game ; and as we reached the top of 

 the hill, I looked around and saw the buck at bay 

 about a hundred paces from me, upon fine level 

 ground, fighting face to face with the dog, who sprang 

 boldly at his head. That buck was a noble fellow ; he 

 rushed at the dog, and they met like knights in a tour- 

 nament ; but it was murderous work : he received the 

 reckless dog upon his sharp antlers and bored him to 

 the ground. In another instant Killbuck had recovered 

 himself, and he again came in full fly at the buck's face 

 with wonderful courage ; again the buck rushed for- 

 ward to meet him, and once more the pointed antlers 

 pinned the dog, and the buck, following up his charge, 

 rolled him over and over for some yards. 



By this time I had galloped up, and I was within a 

 few feet of the buck when he suddenly sprung round 

 with the evident intention of charging the horse. In 

 the same moment Killbuck seized the opportunity, and 

 the buck plunged violently upon the ground, with the 

 staunch dog hanging upon his throat. I jumped off my 

 horse, and the buck fell dead by a thrust with the knife 

 behind the shoulder. 



I now examined the dog ; he was wounded in several 

 places, but as he bled but little, I hoped that his ap- 

 parent exhaustion arose more from the fatigue of the 

 fight than from any severe injury. 



At this time Bran and Lena came up ; they had lost 



