On the Cotton Plains. 75 



the thick green heads of which sheltered us from the pecu- 

 liarly intense sun of late September. It had been very 

 still ; when a slight breeze set the tall corn whispering, and 

 brought on its breath the strange acrid odour which I had 

 noticed as being peculiar to men. So pronounced was it 

 that I instinctively sprang up, and was followed by the 

 whole herd, which, after a moment's hesitation, moved off 

 through the thick covert. 



In the best of company, I of course brought up the rear 

 of the herd, together with several youngsters of my own 

 age ; behind us, as befitted him, paced the lord and 

 master buck ever the last to fly from danger. Our timid 

 vanguard of watchful does had almost reached the edge 

 of the jawdri patch, when a sudden flurry arose, and they 

 leaped, bounding and bucking, in all directions. As I 

 followed the lead of my excellent mamma, in whose sound 

 judgment I had perfect faith, I saw my sterner parent trot 

 straight on, with a curl of his lip. He was not going 

 to share the universal panic and on he went. 



Then a sudden yell burst out behind him, and he gave 

 one mighty leap out of the field, struck something yielding, 

 intangible, and yet arresting, and came a tremendous 

 cropper, firmly entangled in a long net, as a chorus of 

 -shouts rose from the netters. As I darted after the herd, 

 which had escaped to right and left, I have dim recollection of 

 a furious thrashing of hoofs and a grunting, gurgling bellow, 

 followed by much loud guffawing and elated chattering. 

 I don't think they killed him just then. They usually 

 make their victims walk home with them. It is such a 

 nuisance to carry them you see, and matters can be simplified 

 by sewing up the victim's eyelids ! 



It was not many hours after this that we caught sight 

 of a fine buck gazing fixedly at us in the distance, as we 



