224 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. x. 



these two would do it. I got within sixty yards 

 of the herd before they observed me, and as they 

 dashed off towards the jungle, I slipped the strain- 

 ing greyhounds. A loud cheer to the dogs confused 

 the herd, and they scattered to the right and left 

 as they gained the forest, the dogs being close up with 

 them, and Killbuck almost at a buck's throat as he 

 reached the jungle. Following as well as I could 

 through the dusky jungle, I shortly heard the cry of a 

 deer, and on arriving at the spot I found Killbuck and 

 Lena with a buck on the ground. No deer had a 

 chance with this wonderful dog Killbuck. When he 

 was once slipped, there was no hope for the game 

 pursued ; no matter what the character of the country 

 might be, it was certain death to the deer. We 

 gralloched the buck, and having fed the dogs with the 

 offal, we carried him on a pole to the place where we 

 had left the horses. On arrival, we deposited our heavy 

 burden ; and to our satisfaction, we found all our 

 people had arrived. The tents were pitched, and the 

 night-fires were already blazing, as daylight had nearly 

 ceased. 



In the course of an hour, we were comfortably 

 seated at our table, with venison steaks, and chops 

 smoking before us — thanks to the dogs, who were 

 now soundly sleeping at our feet. During the progress 

 of dinner I planned the work for the day following. 

 We were now eight miles from Nielgalla (Blue Rock), 



