Return of Lost Dogs. 167 



as to move with great difficulty. In addition to this he 

 had a deep wound from the buck's horn under the 

 shoulder. 



The great number of elks at the Horton Plains, and 

 the open character of the country, make the hunting a 

 far more enjoyable sport than it is in Newera Elba, 

 where the plains are of much smaller extent, and the 

 jungles are frightfully thick. During a trip of two 

 months at the Horton Plains, we killed forty-three elks, 

 exclusive of about ten, which the pack ran into and 

 killed by themselves, bringing home the account of their 

 performances in distended stomachs. These occur- 

 rences frequently happen when the elk takes away 

 through an impervious country, through which a man 

 cannot possibly follow. In such cases, the pack is 

 either beaten off, or they pull the elk down and devour 

 it. 



This was exemplified some time ago, when the three 

 best dogs were nearly lost. A doe elk broke cover from 

 a small jungle at the Horton Plains, and, instead of 

 taking across the patinas (plains), she doubled back to 

 an immense pathless jungle, closely followed by three 

 grayhounds — Killbuck, Bran and Lena. The first dog, 

 who ran beautifully by nose, led the way, and their di- 

 rection was of course unknown, as the dogs were all 

 mute. Night came, and they had not returned. The 

 next day passed away, but without a sign of the missing 

 dogs. I sent natives to search the distant jungles and 

 ravines in all directions. Three days passed away, and 

 I gave up all hope of them. We were sitting at dinner 

 one night, the fire was blazing cheerfully within, but 

 the rain was pouring without, the wind was howling in 

 fitful gusts, and neither moon nor stars relieved the 



