Jungle By-Ways in India 



looked. There, scarcely 40 yards away, were a 

 number of small yellowish red antelope on the 

 move, some looking round as they edged slowly off. 

 I looked hard at them. Yes, I could see the small 

 horns on several of the antelope. But how small 

 they looked, and how difficult to see against the 

 yellow sand. Instead of dropping and firing at 

 once, I followed slowly, hoping to get a shot against 

 the skyline. Now, as the herd disappeared over a 

 small sand-hillock, I ran crouching over the sand, 

 and then warily crawled to the top of the hill. 

 Sixty yards only I estimated, and I sighted on the 

 biggest buck. Even as I was about to press the 

 trigger the buck moved forward, and after 

 crawling and creeping some 30 yards, the animals 

 again went off at a smart canter. I had gone 

 some two miles or more in this fashion ; the heat 

 was terrific, my temper and patience gave out, 

 and I risked a long shot and missed. And so 

 a hot tramp in a fiery wind back to the bunga- 

 low, vowing I would have a buck that evening. 

 I went out, but saw none. 



It is curious the wonderful fascination the 

 desert has for some men. Whether it be the 

 peculiar feeling of aloofness from the world and 

 abodes of man which invades one when amidst 

 those billowy oceans of sand, or the great silence 

 which almost makes itself felt, or the wonderful 

 charm of the colouring, the hard yellows and reds 

 and browns reduced and toned to the softest 



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