A WASTED HEAD 119 



now hangs over the fireplace in Blackwood Cottage. 

 As I was cautiously peering over some rocks in hopes 

 of ibex, both barrels being on full cock, the left one 

 went off in my hand. Most providentially Francis was 

 well out of the way. This is the barrel that was so 

 much injured in the fall after the brown buck on the 

 eagle rock on the 5th inst It is only roughly 

 patched up, but I cannot spare my " ould weepon " if it 

 went off every hour. Utterly disgusted with making all 

 this noise to no purpose after our long work, I loaded 

 and started off down the slopes in decidedly an 

 unenviable state of mind. Our only chance now was 

 down close to the edge of the Great Forest. For some 

 time we crept and poked about in vain, though the 

 marks of deer surrounded us. At last, as I was giving 

 up all hopes, Francis became greatly excited, and 

 beckoning me to him, pointed below us ; on looking I 

 saw a very heavy, dark-looking stag lurching off towards 

 the jungle. Off went Purdey, and head over heels 

 rolled the stag with a ball through the shoulders, 

 entering between them, so much above him was I. He 

 went on rolling, and never stopped till he came to a 

 precipice, over which he crashed like a huge rock. On 

 going down to him I found a magnificent stag stone 

 dead. His enormous horns were in velvet, and but 

 half-formed. I have never seen such a stag either 

 before or since. Round the coronet he measured 14 

 inches ; his brow antlers were 1 6 inches and not 

 finished growing, and the beam was about 9 inches. Oh 

 how I wished I had never killed such a noble stag, and 

 nothing gained by it ! With something like the 

 feelings of a murderer I clambered back again, intending 

 to send the Todas for the meat, and make them bring 

 me the feet About half an hour afterwards, as we 

 were striding along over the hills, we came across a 



