THE SAL FORESTS. 397 



fell on her liind quarters for a few moments, but 

 presently recovered, and made off after the herd across 

 the flat. The four dogs had sprung from the slips, and 

 splashed through the shallow stream before she had 

 well got on her legs ; and they very nearly had her 

 before she got fairly into her pace. Then, however, 

 she distanced them at once for a few hundred yards, 

 when the old bitch " Bell," who was extremely fast, 

 began to draw steadily up to her. The pups were 

 a hundred yards behind, giving tongue like foxhounds, 

 and old Tinker laboured along scarcely half-way from 

 where they had started. Cell was very near the hind, 

 when I saw her disappear bodily into a hole. But 

 the deer was now failing fast ; and, seeing no chance 

 of making the forest, turned round and came back 

 towards the river. The pups and Tinker now made up 

 considerably by cutting off the corner, and very soon 

 the brindled one, " Sheroo," who was rather the faster, 

 was racing alongside of her, making uncertain snatches 

 at the shoulder. The yellow dog soon joined him, 

 and together they managed to throw over the deer just 

 as she reached the bank of the river. They all three 

 rolled down the bank together ; and before the deer 

 could recover herself Tinker was up and pinned her 

 by the throat. The bitch was not far behind, and 

 among them they nearly tore the poor animal limb 

 from limb. Fearing a row between Tinker and the 

 young dogs I ran up as fast as possible; but a Byga 

 with his axe was before me, and attempted to get 

 the quarry from the dogs. He didn't know Tinker, 

 however, who loosed his hold on the deer's throat only 

 to fly at the Byga. The latter defended himself as well 

 as he could with his axe-handle, very thoughtfully for 

 such a savage, not attempting to use the head ; but 



