Teak and Bamboo. 21 



other gained some momentary advantage, raged the furious 

 battle : the earth was torn up under the spurning of our 

 widespread feet ; saplings snapped under our mad, blind 

 rushes ; sticks and leaves flew as though a whirlwind caught 

 them up. At length we paused for breath, horn to horn, 

 leaning against each other, open-mouthed, eyes showing 

 white, and blood clotting our manes or dripping on the 

 dried leaves below. Then at it again, forced to our knees, 

 heaving up again, resisting and boring, horn grating on 

 horn, scoring the ground deep with the mighty thrusts of 

 our hind feet, till, almost despairing myself, I felt my 

 antagonist weaken. But with indomitable fury the veter- 

 an resumed the onslaught. 



At length, his gasping breath whistling in his parched 

 old throat, and contesting every foot with untameable 

 purpose, I gathered up all the reserve of my vigour, and 

 with a huge effort bore him backwards ; on the edge of the 

 steep fall came the last blow, his footing slipped, and, 

 driving a sharp tine deep into his labouring chest, he rolled 

 down into the river-bed, accompanied by a shower of earth 

 and loose stones. 



Staggering to the edge I looked down. There stood the 

 old warrior, muzzle to the ground, and ears drooped in the 

 humiliation of defeat; and, as I gazed, he slowly turned, and 

 with a bubbling groan tottered away into the black shadow 

 of a great mango tree that arched the ndla lower down. 



Then, flinging back my bloodstained antlers, one deep, 

 exultant bell, in which were concentrated all my pent up 

 feelings, rang through the forest and died away on the 

 silent night " Dhank !" 



The next morning, as I took my accustomed way up the 

 khora, and paused ere facing the steep slope to my favourite 

 form, accompanied by a few hinds, my eye caught a swift 



