IS2 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. viii. 



feet above the river's bed. From this spot I had a fine 

 view of the ground. Immediately before me, rose the 

 hill from which the elk had barked ; beneath my feet, 

 the river stretched into a wide pool on its entrance to 

 the jungle. This jungle clothed the precipitous cliffs 

 of a deep ravine, down which the river fell in two 

 cataracts ; these were concealed from view by the 

 forest. I waited in breathless expectation of the find.' 

 A few minutes passed, when the sudden burst of the 

 pack in full cry came sweeping down upon the light 

 breeze ; loudly the cheering sound swelled as they 

 topped the hill, and again it died away as they crossed 

 some deep ravine. In a few minutes the cry became 

 very distant, as the elk was evidently making straight 

 up the hills ; once or twice I feared he would cross 

 them, and make away for a different part of the 

 country. The cry of the pack was so indistinct that 

 my ear could barely catch it, when suddenly a gust of 

 wind from that direction brought down a chorus of 

 voices that there was no mistaking : louder and louder 

 the music became ; the elk had turned, and was com- 

 ing down the hill-side at a slapping pace. The jungle 

 crashed as he came rushing through the yielding 

 branches. Out he came, breaking cover in fine style, 

 and away he dashed over the open country. He was 

 a noble buck, and had got a long start ; not a single 

 hound had yet appeared, but I heard them coming 

 through the jungle in full cry. Down the side of the 



