ON THE COTTON PLAINS 159 



except when I had to fight for my property, or when I 

 added to its numbers. Some two years must have passed 

 thus ; and by this time I was, I flatter myself, one of the 

 finest bucks in the countryside. My horns were over 

 twenty-four inches in length, and were strong and thick ; 

 my colour a dark brown-grey, for I am of the caste that 

 never assumes the intense black of the smaller breed 

 and my bulk and weight have stood me in good stead. 



The country where I found myself finally settled is 

 within fifteen miles of a small military station which lies 

 nearer the range of hills to the north, and it is visited 

 now and again by sahibs. Thus far I had escaped being 

 fired at by observing the simple rules which every wide- 

 awake buck should have at his command ; but of late 

 times I too have had my experiences in this line. For 

 the guidance of other bucks I should observe that one 

 should be particularly wide awake on Thursdays and Sun- 

 days it is on such days that most of my narrow shaves 

 have occurred. They have been so many now that I can 

 recollect few of the circumstances connected with them. 



One day I saw a sahib standing in the distance. He 

 wore a white hat with a spotted blue pagri, and was 

 accompanied by a native in khaki, with whom he was in 

 deep consultation. I was so tickled that I did not take 

 particular care of myself, and the apparition approached : 

 then, after turning once more anxiously to the native, 

 whom I distinctly heard say " Ap ki khushi" it bent its 

 back, and, assuming a stealthy gait, crept towards me. It 

 had not gone far when it suddenly remembered something, 

 and, retracing its uncomfortable way, took something from 

 the native, and put it with a loud click in the rifle. 



Then it resumed its broken-backed approach. Fascinated 

 by this weird method of "stalking," I stared and stared, till 

 the figure rose and fumbled with its gun : then, as it was 

 possible that it might be pointed somewhere near me when 

 it exploded, I moved off. 



