TIGERLAND 



saw the buck jump forward, and the next moment, followed 

 by the others, he was off along the ridge. 



In the meantime I had climbed up to the top and, 

 slipping in fresh cartridges, followed in pursuit, but as 

 well might I have attempted to race a locomotive, for the 

 herd was out of sight before I had run ten yards. 

 However, I continued to run on, and reaching the end 

 of the spur, caught sight of them again, galloping along 

 another ridge, but quite five hundred yards away. 



Examining them through the glasses, I saw to my disgust 

 the buck that I had fired at running on three legs, seemingly 

 in no way inconvenienced, and keeping well up with the rest. 

 I fired again, but they were now practically out of range, 

 and my bullet struck the ground several yards behind them 

 as they disappeared over a crest. 



This was the last I saw of them that day, for presently 

 a heavy mist came rolling up the valley, and within an 

 incredibly short time, every hill around me was blotted out 

 of sight. This sudden transformation of daylight into dark- 

 ness merely astonished me at first, but soon, as the mist 

 grew denser, I became seriously alarmed, as I could no longer 

 see the ridge on which I stood. I had noticed as I came 

 along that this ridge was a very narrow one, and as there 

 was a precipice on each side of it, I felt that to grope my 

 way back in the dark would be too perilous an undertaking. 



I accordingly decided on remaining where I was till 

 the mist had cleared away, or till such time as the " shikari," 

 wondering at my absence, should come to my assistance. 

 But he betrayed no such anxiety for my safety, for when 

 three hours later the mist had cleared sufficiently to permit 

 of my returning, I found him and the coolie both com- 

 fortably asleep ! 



It is unnecessary to mention the measures I adopted 

 to arouse them, but they were simple and evidently 

 effective, as they started up in terror, thinking some wild 

 beast had attacked them ! 



It was useless to attempt another stalk that morning, 

 as it was already close on noon, and most of the hills around 

 were still enveloped in the mist, which seemed likely to con- 

 tinue. We accordingly started back for camp, where we 

 eventually arrived, though not till nearly dusk, as we had 

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