xxv THE SAMBUR 429 



sudden and ringing bark of an elk. They were at bay ! but at 

 least 3 miles from where I stood. 



" In this spot, on the narrow ridge of the mountain top, the 

 winter wind had prevented all trees from growing. The vegetation 

 consisted of nothing but stunted bushes and dwarf nilho, gradually 

 increasing in height as it obtained a more sheltered situation in 

 its descent, until it gave place to lofty forest. From this clear 

 and elevated post I marked out the line of country that I ought to 

 take, and following the elk's track as my surest guide, I started 

 off at a great pace down the mountain side. 



" Tearing through the bushes and trees at this rate, I lost the 

 track. Striking my line of country according to my own judgment, 

 I ploughed along for a couple of miles, sometimes losing all sound 

 of the bay, at other times hearing it indistinctly, but always as 

 far off, or apparently farther off than ever. The real fact was that 

 the elk was continually breaking his bay, and running farther down 

 the mountain towards Dimboola ; he was only standing to bay 

 within the river at short intervals to rest. 



" For about 4 miles I had burst my way through the jungle, 

 when, upon issuing from a hollow close to the river, I heard the 

 bay within a quarter of a mile, and the jungle in this part being 

 more open, I put on extra steam and was soon up. Ye gods, 

 what a pair of antlers ! what a splendid stag ! There he stood in 

 the middle of the river, knee-deep, with the dogs around him, 

 playing old Harry with the leaders of the pack whenever they 

 showed signs of making an attack. 



" It was a splendid sight, and it was delightful to see the joy of 

 the dogs as they welcomed me upon arrival. Lucifer, Bran, and 

 Hecate all left the bay, and came up to me wagging their tails, 

 and then once more returned to their work, to fight. Bertram 

 was too absorbed in the excitement of the battle to think of any- 

 thing but the game before him. I never saw a dog more regardless 

 of punishment. He was struck down every minute, but he never- 

 theless returned to the charge with redoubled fury, and always 

 retained his place as the first to lead in when any chance opened 

 for attack. 



" All this courage was useless ; the stag was so quick in repelling, 

 that the dogs, who were almost swimming, had no chance. 

 Accordingly I drew my knife, and, giving them a cheer, I went 

 into the rapid stream. 



" Immediately the stag broke his bay, and, rushing through 

 the jungle, he was closely followed by the pack, until he again 

 came to bay about a quarter of a mile lower down the river. I 



