JACKAL HUNTING ON THE NEILGHERRIES, 1376. 131 



he goes, there he goes ! " Hold up your hat, sir, and for good- 

 ness sake don't holloa ; for, renowned a pack as are the Ootaca- 

 mund Hounds, they are but mortal after all. It is no slight 

 luck that they dash across the line at once, catch it up with a 

 swing, and are off with a noise and sparkle that do them credit. 

 Indeed, they start with an undeniable head ; though, as with 

 many of superior degree, it must be confessed they are a little 

 apt to lose it under difficulties. So they stream away right 

 merrily down the sloping ground, the horse hoofs scarcely 

 sounding on the springy grass as we fairly struggle behind them. 

 Along the road it is, at a pace that makes the dust fly as in a 

 gallop-past over the Bangalore maidan. Yet on they go for a 

 mile at the best pace every hound can muster. Surely it must 

 be " flash ! " No scent could lie here ! But yes, they turn off 

 suddenly at top speed, and rattle on unhesitatingly, testifying 

 loudly to the sweet savour of jackal. Crooktail is leading them 

 noisily, his twisted stern waving in frantic efforts to improve the 

 pace. Crooktail, I must tell you, was bred and born on the 

 Neilgherries, and consequently thinks he knows more about 

 thern than anybody else. He is not altogether a model of form, 

 but he can travel like a steam engine, and is as faultless of nose 

 as he is guileless of all sense of discipline. Let him lead along 

 a line, he bears himself bravely ; but no " second riddle " for 

 him. The cry of other hounds is to him the signal for seeking 

 elsewhere on his own account ; and on his return to kennel he 

 will indulge in the most pronounced bad language to all who 

 approach him. 



However, Crooktail is in a good humour now ; and though 

 the 0. H. are rather backward in condition, each member is 

 straining to live with him — on a scent that they must be able 

 to see, for there is no stooping to smell. We cheer them 

 lustily and ceaselessly (for our new hounds have as yet been 

 scarcely entered to jack), and for two or three miles the head is 

 no whit diminished. A jump ! ye gods, and this on the Neil- 

 gherries ! It is only a deep bush-hidden nullah, but there is a 

 pleasant tickle to the soul in "setting him at it," and leaning 



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