276 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON. chap. xi. 



a good stick, and, in company with my brother, three 

 friends, and my informant, we started to revenge 

 Merriman. Perewelle is twelve miles from my house 

 across country : it was six P.M. when we started, and 

 we arrived at a village within two miles of this nest of 

 villains at half-past eight. Here we got further infor- 

 mation, and a man who volunteered to point out three 

 men who were the principal actors in murdering the 

 dog. We slept at this village, and, rising at four o'clock 

 on the following morning, we marched towards Pere- 

 welle" to surprise the village and capture the offenders. 



It was bright moonlight, and we arrived at the 

 village just at break of day. The house was pointed 

 out in which the fellows lived ; we immediately sur- 

 rounded it, and upon entering we seized the offenders. 

 Upon searching the house we found a quantity of 

 dried venison, a spear and an axe, covered with blood, 

 with which they had destroyed the unfortunate dog. 



Taking a fine gutta-percha whip, I flogged the 

 culprits soundly ; and we forced them to lead the way 

 and point out the very spot of the elk's death. They 

 would not confess the dog's murder, although it was 

 proved against them. 



It was a frightful spot, about two hundred paces 

 below the foot of the great fall. The river, swollen 

 by the late rain, boiled, and strove with the op- 

 posite rocks, lashing itself into foam, and roaring 

 down countless cataracts, which, though well worthy 



