BLACK-BUCK SHOOTING. 117 



sixpence, only not quite as big, and worth about 

 that sum.) Biting and bending it with my teeth, 

 I reduced it sufficiently to enable me to hammer 

 it down my right barrel, on top of a charge of 

 powder ; and, the wad being duly placed on top, 

 I advanced to do battle. 



The buck lay motionless till I got within some 

 five yards of him, with his head and neck extended 

 flat on the ground. Then, seeing he was dis- 

 covered, he jumped up, floundered about, and lay 

 down again. This went on for a few minutes, till 

 at last the poor brute seemed quite exhausted. 



Luckily for my prospects of success, I kept cool, 

 and c reserved my fire,' determined not to risk 

 a shot till I could make sure. 



At last the opportunity offered itself, and, walk- 

 ing up to the poor buck as he lay quite still, with 

 his large, beautiful eyes fixed in a dazed, stony 

 stare, I placed the muzzle of my gun close be- 

 hind his ear, fired, and had bagged my first buck. 



In after years I had learnt more of the habits 

 of the animal, and how he may often be bagged 

 by the use of stratagem. Almost one of the last 

 bucks I ever shot was obtained in this manner 

 when out on a hog-hunting expedition in Berar. 



After the day's hunt, which had been fairly 

 successful, we were marching on to our fresh 

 camp, and, as custom was, had separated, shooting 



