a66 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON. chap. XI. 



inches in length, which he received from a buck whose 

 horns are hanging over my door. 



T had started with the pack at daybreak, and I 

 was riding down the Badulla road, about a mile from 

 the kennel, when the whole pack suddenly took up a 

 scent off the road, and dashed into the jungle in full 

 cry. The road was enclosed by forest on either side. 

 The pack had evidently divided upon two elk, as they 

 were running in different directions. 



Starting off down the pass, I soon reached the steep 

 patinas, and I heard the pack coming down through 

 the jungle which crowns the hills on the left of the road. 

 There was a crush in the underwood, and the next 

 moment a fine buck broke cover and went away along 

 the hillside. Merriman and Tiptoe were the two 

 leading dogs, and they were not fifty yards behind 

 him. Old Smut came tearing along after them, and I 

 gave Bran a holloa and slipped him immediately. It 

 was a beautiful sight to see Bran fly along the patina : 

 across the swampy bottom, taking the broad stream 

 in one bound, and skimming up the hill, he was on the 

 buck's path in a few minutes, pulling up to him at 

 every stride. He passed the few dogs that were in 

 chase like lightning, and in a few more bounds he was 

 at the buck's side. With a dexterous blow, however, 

 the buck struck him with his fore foot, and sent him 

 rolling down the hill with a frightful gash in his side. 

 The buck immediately descended the hillside, and 



