438 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



never long without seeing deer. Sometimes we espied at a long 

 distance a herd of axis. We then did our best to stalk them, 

 leading the two greyhounds in the slips. 



This was a very delightful sport, as the work was on horseback 

 instead of toiling throughout the day on foot, as in Newera Ellia, 

 when hunting sambur deer. 



When a herd of cheetul were approached within 1 50 yards, I 

 slipped the dogs. It was a beautiful sight to see the highly trained 

 greyhounds select their deer. Killbuck despised a doe, and 

 invariably picked out a buck, which he would quickly separate from 

 the herd, and course single-handed across the open, until the 

 opportunity offered, when by a well-prepared spring he fixed upon 

 the ear. Being well mounted, I was always in view ; and riding 

 to the spot where he was holding the buck I dismounted and gave 

 it the usual thrust behind the shoulder. 



This was my best dog, but he met his death upon an occasion 

 when we happened to come across a very grand buck that was a 

 born fighter. 



As usual, the dog had the speed of the deer upon favourable 

 ground ; I was going my best to keep them in good view. I saw 

 Killbuck reach the flank, but before he had time to make a spring, 

 the stag threw his head upon one side, and backward, so as to 

 strike the dog with the extreme points of his sharp antlers. A 

 short time after, the stag came to bay upon firm open ground, and 

 fought the dog face to face. I saw Killbuck rush straight at the 

 deer's face, and instead of receiving the attack passively, the deer 

 quickly lowered his head, and not only met but charged the dog, 

 rolling him over, and following him up as he drove his sharp tines 

 deep into his body. The instant I arrived, the deer would have 

 charged the horse, but Killbuck, who had recovered his feet, lost 

 not a moment, and seizing the ear, the stag was in his hold. In 

 a moment I jumped off, and drove the knife into its heart, killing 

 it upon the spot. 



The dog was dreadfully exhausted, and lay panting upon the 

 ground. There were two or three small holes in his chest, which 

 did not bleed. My people came up, and finding water in a stream, 

 we fetched some in my helmet to bathe him. This seemed to re- 

 vive him, and he was placed in couples with the bitch, who had 

 come to the call, having been also wounded by her stag. In a few 

 moments the dog fell to the ground, gave a few gasps, and died. 



An examination showed that the horns had passed in two places 

 through the lungs ; but in spite of the mortal wounds, he had seized 

 and held the stag. 



