32 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



I well remember my first start from the above- 

 mentioned quarter in search of big game, with 

 Captain, now Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, who, al- 

 though my senior in point of service, was, as far as 

 ' shikar ' experience goes, not much in advance of 

 myself. With what feverish excitement all the camp 

 kit was prepared, stores laid in, cartridges loaded, 

 etc., and, when the day arrived for us to start, I 

 felt all aglow with sporting fire and ardour for 

 the chase, and pictured our triumphant return to 

 cantonments, at the expiry of our leave, laden 

 with trophies, skins, skulls, and horns. 



We had sent on our camp some twenty-five 

 miles the day previous, and rode out in time for 

 dinner, shooting our way, picking up a couple of 

 black buck and a ravine-deer en route. To our 

 great disgust, on our arrival, we found a message 

 had preceded us from the adjutant, saying my 

 friend was required the next day as president of 

 a regimental court-martial. It was perhaps a bit 

 of retributive justice, as we had started the day 

 before our leave actually began, hoping to snatch 

 two extra days' sport. However, there was no 

 help for it, and, with many anathemas on our 

 adjutant and the exigencies of Her Majesty's 

 service, we could only make the best of a bad 

 job, which on my friend's part involved getting 

 on a fresh horse after dinner, and riding back the 



