By Tamarind and Mhoiva. 107 



" Where is he lying ?" 



"In that grass, that red grass, close to the little 

 chironji tree, " 



"How far?" 



" Perchance it is a hundred paces." 



There is a point of vantage among some big rocks rather 

 to our right front, and we are soon on them, within about 

 sixty yards of the chironji tree. But nothing is visible. 



11 Is he breathing ? " we call back in a low tone. 



" I cannot tell " comes the reply. 



We creep a little nearer, still among tall rocks; there 

 are stones handy, and soon they are flying through the air. 



"He is dead!" cries the old man after a while. "A 

 stone rolled on top of him ! " 



There is a handy tree, with easy boughs, a short way 

 farther on, and soon we are in it, rifle in hand. Thirty yards 

 off, in the grass, lies something black and white, and quite 

 still. We climb a little higher, and stare hard. Then we 

 climb down. 



There is a bush still farther on. We peer carefully 

 round it. 



His tail is towards us : his head is turned away. And 

 the pose of that head is the pose of death. Nevertheless, 

 for a space, we stand watching, rifle to shoulder. 



We stoop, and fumble for a big stone. Then, rifle held 

 ready in the left hand, we cast that stone over the tall 

 grass, on to the brindled hide. Thud ! 



Next moment the jungle echoes to a cheerful cry 



" Whoo whoop ! " Come along ; it's all right ! 



***** 



It is to be doubted whether a greater herd oiCervus axis 

 occupied so comparatively confined limits as in those little 

 bandis at the period described. 



