214 By Mountain, Lake, and Plain 



when travelling under Eussian auspices, would 

 generally be perfectly safe. 



The main ridge of the Karatikan stag ground 

 ran west. On its northern side numerous spurs 

 descended to the Gurgan river, making a series 

 of big corries. On this side woods alternated 

 with open spaces, expanses of grass and flowers, 

 and very notably masses of thorn that offered 

 a much more blank refusal than is connoted in 

 the notorious name "wait-a-bit." On the other, 

 the southern side of the ridge, the forest was 

 almost uninterrupted, a deep gloomy valley into 

 which the sun hardly penetrated. D. and I 

 made two beats of the ground, taking the north 

 and south side alternately, and in the course of 

 the next fortnight obtained some acquaintance 

 with what must be characterised as a vexatious 

 form of sport. I will try to describe some of 

 my meetings with the stags of Karatikan, and 

 the reader will perhaps understand my employ- 

 ment of the adjective. 



It is the twilight of dawn on the top of the 

 ridge. 



" Night's candles are burnt out and jocund day 

 Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops." 



Silently as possible we are brushing through 

 deep grass and blackberry bushes, wringing wet 



