chap. vii. OLD SMUT'S RUSE. 197 



well to the point, and his deep voice was heard loud 

 above the din of the bay ; but he could do nothing. 

 The buck had a firm footing, and was standing 

 shoulder-deep ; rearing to his full height, and spring- 

 ing at the dogs as they swam towards him, he struck 

 them beneath the water with his fore feet. The bay 

 lasted for half an hour; at the expiration of this time, 

 a sudden thought appeared to strike old Smut ; instead 

 of continuing the attack, he swam direct for the shore, 

 leaving the buck still occupied with the baying pack. 

 The elk was standing about fourteen feet from the 

 bank, which was covered with jungle. Presently we 

 saw the cunning old hero Smut creeping like a leopard 

 along the edge of the bank till opposite the elk ; he 

 slowly retreated for a few paces, and the next 

 moment he was seen flying through the air, having 

 made a tremendous spring at the elk's ear. A cloud 

 of spray for an instant concealed the effect. Both dog 

 and buck were for a few moments beneath the water ; 

 when they reappeared, the old dog was hanging on 

 his ear ! Merriman at once had him by the other ear ; 

 and one after another the seizers held him. In vain 

 he tried to drown them off by diving ; as his head 

 again rose above the surface, the dogs were at 

 their places : his struggles were useless, and the knife 

 finished him. 



We now searched the jungle for Tiptoe's body, ex- 

 pecting to find him dead where we had last seen him 



