164 THE FOREST <\ND THE FIELD. 



Again Fred's rifle cracked, and a magnificent old 

 ram, that was leading half-a-dozen females, plunged 

 suddenly forward, regained his legs a moment, and 

 then dropped. Again there was a confused hurry- 

 ing to and fro, a gathering as if for consultation ; 

 then the whole herd burst into a gallop, and disap- 

 peared over the crest some distance below the spot 

 where the Doctor was posted, and in a few moments 

 I saw them dashing across a distant hill miles 

 away with undiminished speed. As matters turned 

 out, I did not get a shot, for I did not care to fire 

 at random among the herd, which was my only 

 chance ; but my companions had no reason to com- 

 plain, for Fred killed one outright, and wounded a 

 second, which was bagged after a long chase and 

 several more shots ; whilst the Doctor killed one, 

 and wounded another, which got away. Our game 

 being collected, and gralloched, was much heavier 

 than we could carry, so we had to leave two men 

 in charge whilst we made the best of our way to 

 the rest of the people, whom we left in the valley, 

 and sent coolies to fetch it. 



As it was now too late to think of continuing 



