396 THE HIGHLANDS OF CEXTRAL INDIA. 



a long, fiat stretch of grass-land beyond the river ; 

 and after stretching themselves, and enjoying a game 

 at romps, commenced feeding pretty quickly down 

 towards the bank of the river. We at once retreated 

 over the bank of our knoll ; and, getting into a hollow 

 protected by a fringe of bushes, crept up to the banks 

 and again reconnoitred. They were quite unsuspicious, 

 the wind being highly favourable ; and they seemed 

 likely to come and drink in our very faces. When 

 within a few hundred yards, however, they halted a 

 long time behind a little rising ground. I was in agony 

 lest the dogs should make us known, as they were 

 dreadfully excited by the restraint of the stalks, and 

 seemed to know perfectly well that there was something 

 to hunt at hand. Presently a single hind topped the 

 rise, and for full five minutes stood sniffing round 

 in all directions, her great ears cocked in aid of her 

 sense of smell. At last she seemed to be satisfied, and 

 moved slowly forwards, now pausing to crop a mouthful 

 of grass, and then again starting and looking about 

 as if she had heard or smelt somethinsj. A stao- now 

 walked up past her, and without the least precaution 

 came boldly on to the water, which he entered 

 about a hundred yards above our post. The rest 

 of the herd were still mostly hidden by the rise. 

 Creeping through the bushes I prepared to fire at 

 the stag, and gave orders for the hounds to be slipped 

 at once after I should fire. I was barely in time to 

 secure a shot, before the stag, alarmed by a yelp from 

 one of the dogs, turned to flee up the bank. As it 

 was I dropped him on the pebbly bank, shot through 

 the shoulder ; and, turning the ritle on the hind 

 who was pausing startled at the shot, the other bullet 

 passed through her thigh, injuring the hip joint. She 



