A Brace of Bucks. 215 



The lemon grass was so high at this season that the 

 dogs had no chance, and I was therefore compelled to 

 pick out some spot which was free from this grass, and 

 employ heaters to drive the jungles, instead of stalking 

 the deer in the usual manner. I tracked a herd of deer 

 into a large detached piece of cover, and, sending the 

 heaters round to the opposite side, I posted myself with 

 the grayhounds in the slips behind a clump of trees, 

 upon a small plain of low, soft grass. 



The noise of the beaters approached nearer and near- 

 er, and presently two splendid bucks with beautiful ant- 

 lers rushed from the jungle about two hundred yards 

 from me, and scudded over the plain. I slipped the 

 grayhounds, and away they went in full fly, bounding 

 over the soft turf in beautiful style. 



Mounting old Jack, who was standing at my elbow, 

 and giving him the spur, I rode after them. It was a 

 splendid course ; the two bucks separated, Bran and 

 Lena taking after one, and Killbuck following the other 

 in his usual dashing manner. Away they went with 

 wonderful speed, the bucks constantly doubling to throw 

 the dogs out ; but Killbuck never overshot his game, 

 and as the buck doubled he was round after him in fine 

 style. I now followed him, leaving Bran and Lena to 

 do their best, and at a killing pace we crossed the plain 

 — through a narrow belt of trees, down a stony hollow, 

 over another plain, through a small jungle, on entering 

 which Killbuck was within a few yards of the buck's 

 haunches. 



Now old Jack is as fond of the sport as I am, and he 

 kept up the chase in good style ; but just as we were fly- 

 ing through some high lemon grass, a fallen tree, which 

 was concealed beneath, tripped up the horse's fore legs, 



