46 A CRUEL LESSON. 



half-way down, it was evident, from the increased uproar of 

 the beaters and the barking of the dogs near the centre of 

 the wood, that something was afoot there. On reaching the 

 spot, we found the wounded deer lying in a pool of water 

 in the steep rocky bed of a stream, with the curs baying 

 around it. The defenceless creature, a big milk-hind, was 

 unable to rise, for, in addition to a smashed leg from the 

 bullet, she had broken another among the slippery wet 

 rocks, in her endeavours to escape from the dogs. I was 

 stricken with remorse at seeing the poor animal lying help- 

 lessly there, with her large mild eyes turned reproachfully, 

 as it were, on her persecutors. It was a cruel lesson to me, 

 and never to be forgotten, and one from which much might 

 be learnt in the cause of humanity. By this I do not mean 

 that even here, where the predatory animals keep them down 

 quite fast enough, hinds should never be shot and good 

 yeld hinds killed in proper season are not the worst of 

 venison, but I allude to the wanton, indiscriminate de- 

 struction of game at all seasons an unsportsmanlike prac- 

 tice which, I regret to say, is by no means uncommon in a 

 country where there are no strict laws in force to prevent it, 

 and one which has ruined sport in many easily accessible and 

 much-frequented places, where game was formerly abundant. 

 With the smaller animals, such as gooral and kakur, it is 

 not always easy to discern the gender to which they belong ; 

 but with jurrow and suchlike large game this can seldom be 

 mistaken. 



After the deer had been put out of its misery, I left the 

 men to bring it down, and straightway returned to camp in a 

 mood that was more thoughtful than elated, although I must 

 confess to a pardonable amount of satisfaction at having 

 found the wounded hind. There was a good deal of wrang- 

 ling about the distribution of the spoil. But all was amicably 

 arranged by my two Goorkhas, who divided it with their 

 kookeries into small equal portions, and distributed it fairly 

 as far as it would go. 



