166 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON chap, vn 



diately recovered himself, and before the smoke had 

 cleared away he was in full retreat through the thorny 

 jungle, the heavy ball having taken all the pluck out 

 of him. This was just as I had expected ; pursuit in 

 such a jungle was impossible, and I was perfectly con- 

 tented with having turned him. 



The next morning, having made all arrangements 

 for starting homewards, after breakfast I took my 

 rifle and one gun-bearer with a double-barrelled gun 

 to enjoy one last stroll in the forest. It was just 

 break of day. My first course was towards the rivei 

 which flowed through it, as I expected to find the 

 game near the water, an hour before sunrise being 

 their time for drinking. I had not proceeded far 

 before immense herds of deer offered tempting shots ; 

 hut I was out simply in search of large antlers, and 

 none appearing of sufficient size, I would not fire. 

 Buffaloes continually presented themselves : I was 

 tired of shooting these brutes, but I killed two who 

 looked rather vicious ; and I amused myself with 

 remarking the immense quantity of game, and 

 imagining the number of heads that I could bag had 

 I chosen to indulge in indiscriminate slaughter. At 

 length I noticed a splendid buck lying on the sandy 

 bed of the river, beneath a large tree ; his antlers were 

 beautiful, and I stalked him to within sixty yards and 

 shot him. I had not been reloaded ten minutes, and 

 was walking quietly through the forest, when I saw a 



