158 WILD LIFE IN NORTH CANARA. 



seventy yards he stopped and turned 

 his side to me. I raised the rifle for 

 a fatal shot. 



To my amazement and disgust all 

 power of control was gone from me ; 

 the muzzle of the gun waved wildly to 

 and fro. I could not cover him, and 

 fired I knew not where. Away went 

 the elk, but rather slowly, and just 

 then the two shikaries came over the 

 brow where he disappeared. " Run, 

 sahib, run ! " they shouted ; " the elk 

 is lying down just over the hill." I 

 started to run, but the rebellion in the 

 camp was not confined to my hands 

 and arms, my legs would not run, I 

 could barely compel them to a slow 

 jog-trot. However, we followed the 

 wounded stag along the Pycaroo river, 



