chap. ix. A MORNING'S DEER-COURSING. 2C1 



much of the pleasure in both shooting and coursing, 

 especially in the latter sport, as the greyhounds must 

 be home by 8 A. M., or they would soon die from the 

 effects of the sun. 



It was in the cool hour of sunrise, when the dew 

 lay thickly upon the grass, and the foliage glistened 

 with the first beams of morning, that we stalked over 

 the extensive plains with Killbuck and Lena in the 

 slips, in search of deer. Several herds winded us at a 

 distance of half a mile, and immediately bounded away, 

 rendering pursuit impossible ; and we determined not 

 to slip the dogs unless they had a fair start, as one run 

 in this climate was quite work enough for a morning. 

 After several disappointments in stalking, we at length 

 discovered a noble buck standing alone by the edge of 

 a narrow belt of jungle ; the instant that he observed 

 us, he stepped proudly into the cover. This being 

 open forest, my brother took the greyhounds in at the 

 spot where the deer had entered, while I ran round to 

 the opposite side of the cover, and took my position 

 upon an extensive lawn of fine grass about half a mile 

 in width. 



I had not remained a minute at my post before I 

 heard a crash in the jungle, as though an elephant 

 were charging through, and in another instant, a 

 splendid buck burst upon the plain at full speed, and 

 away he flew over the level lawn, with the brace of 

 greyhounds laying out about fifty paces behind him. 



