A HUNTER'S PARADISE 59 



as I was concerned I saw nothing more of him till a much 

 later stage in the proceedings. 



I crept forward with infinite precaution, the -450 at full 

 cock in my hand. The weight of the light rifle had not 

 caused me much trouble or fatigue on this stalk ! As I 

 advanced my eye was held by a curious-shaped, forked, 

 almost deformed tree standing at the edge of the forest and 

 directly ahead of me. The tree was thick and stumpy, forked 

 at about twelve feet from the ground with a thick branch 

 growing out horizontally from the trunk about six feet up. 

 This tree was subsequently to play an important part 

 in the day's operations. I arrived at the place where the 

 forest thinned out, keeping so far as possible a tree or two 

 always in front shielding my line of approach. The rise 

 was more gradual here, and as I approached what may be 

 called the edge of the forest the grass, with the lighter 

 overhead cover, at once became thicker and higher inter- 

 mingled with bushes. Out beyond the hill-side, as is so 

 commonly the case in this part of the country, grew stonier 

 with elevation ; being covered with a scattered, rather 

 stunted tree-growth, interspersed with tufts of the sabai 

 grass and bushes growing in clumps. A glance showed me 

 that a number of bison were grazing here. Several were 

 near the top of the slope, whilst others had probably already 

 crossed the ridge out of sight. I was evidently only just 

 in time if I was to get a shot before the herd disappeared 

 for once on the other side the animals might get into 

 bamboo jungle and give an infinite amount of trouble 

 before I could get up to them again. 



I watched the herd with bated breath. In spite of 

 some acquaintance with this fine beast I had not yet learnt 

 to look upon him in his native jungle unmoved, and the 

 sight before me set my pulses tingling and my heart beating 

 a double tattoo on my ribs. My object was, naturally, to 

 pick out the master bull of the herd, and I could form no 

 estimate as to what his size would be. I had not had the 

 practice, and even with it I knew I could never hope to vie 

 with Bishu in his wonderful capacity for picking out the 

 biggest head after a hurried glance over a feeding, or even 

 a bolting, herd. As I surveyed the animals in front of me 

 most fervently did I wish he were beside me. The animals 

 were half and, at times, wholly hidden by the bushes or 

 scattered trees, and as they moved about slowly browsing, 



