186 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



fields surrounding it, in which were counted no less than 

 eleven big stags, while the total number of deer was com- 

 puted at one hundred and fifty, and comprised many 

 smaller ' brockets.' 



Heads of from 34 to 35 inches in length were almost 

 common in those jungles, 37^ being the biggest pair of 

 horns secured. 



A stroll through the coppices and grassy rides of the 

 Pipaldd jungle in its palmy old days was a wonderful 

 experience to one most of whose shikar had been obtained 

 only too literally at the wringing sweat of his brow. 



The marvellous abundance of game, the rush of the 

 twinkling legs and spotted hides through the underwood 

 they never went farther than a quarter of a mile ere 

 pulling up and the certainty that one's quarry was not 

 a dreamy myth, whatever might be the difficulty of work- 

 ing up to and picking out the biggest stag these, added to 

 the beauties of that enchanting retired woodland, all com- 

 bined to form an impression that time can never efface. 



