Antlers 



their tempers, and what was started in play 

 appeared to become a serious business. The spar- 

 ring was carried on with the young sapling between 

 them, and what was left of the bark was soon torn 

 away in shreds. I saw the old stag look round once 

 as much as to say, ' What on earth are you young- 

 sters at, making yourselves hot and uncomfortable 

 for nothing ! Why don't you sit down peacefully 

 in the shade and rest ? ' Advice the young never 

 wish to receive nor understand when it is given 

 them. 



I left the youngsters at it, for I had several miles 

 to go, and as the old stag said it was getting hot, 

 and there were points in favour of his idea when 

 one looked at his grateful shade. 



THE SILENT FOREST POOL 



A barasingha stag is a beautiful beast, and at 

 no time I think have I seen him to more advantage 

 than when one evening in a jungle stroll in the 

 hot weather I came upon a wonderfully peaceful 

 and sylvan scene. 



We had been scrunching and crackling over 

 the dead sal leaves and dry brittle twigs of the sal 

 forest, which in April gives out as much sound 

 as if an army of elephants were on the move 

 instead of a couple of pigmy men, and makes 

 the heart droop in utter despair of getting near 

 anything living, much less a decent antlered but 

 wily stag. 



41 



