82 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



sahib, and he was lying behind a little mound. Of course 

 I was off at my best pace, until I had put 300 yards between 

 us : this I always considered perfect safety, so I wheeled, 

 and stood to have another look. 



Something shone dully behind the mound for an instant, 

 then tipped suddenly up, and, simultaneously, " chip !" 

 came a slight report a mere crack and a searing pain 

 cut along the lower edge of my belly. It was only a graze ; 

 but the frightful force with which the bullet twanged off 

 the ground, far beyond me, with a peculiar high-pitched 

 pinging sound, and the absence of the usual smoke from 

 behind the mound, told me of a new destructive force, and 

 one to be terribly feared. 



I am getting on in years now, and, I suppose, in spite of 

 my watchful does, shall some day fall to the sahib with 

 that strange new rifle. And a worthy spoil shall I make. 

 A 25-inch head ; a fine glossy coat, which I have defended 

 unscarred through hundreds of hard-fought fights ; a buck 

 worth bagging ! 



And, if I fall, may it be fairly ! Stalk me fairly, Sahib ! 

 Don't come skulking after me in a bullock cart ; don't 

 wait for me by the tank in the hot weather; and, should my' 

 head ever grace your walls, do not forget the many days of 

 quiet sport I have afforded you on my wide rich plains, the 

 glamour of which will surely return to you, even amidst the 

 stirring memories of more exciting days. 



Shoot none of my immature brethren, Sahib ! If you must 

 kill for food, take a few of my yeld-does ; I can spare them 

 else, how think you will the country raise bucks like me ? 



