120 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



handsome stag travelling. I emptied my barrels at 

 him, all very long shots, but did not touch him ; he was 

 a very handsome, long-antlered stag, and I was very 

 sorry to lose him. Loading, we went on again, never 

 expecting another shot ; but hardly had we gone 300 

 yards when there was a rustle in the sholah, and out 

 broke two hinds. Hearing something still moving in 

 the wood, I waited, expecting a stag, and sure enough 

 out he came, a small, scrubby-headed young fellow. I 

 put a ball clean through his shoulders which staggered 

 him, but he sustained the wound bravely, and struggled 

 over the hill. Loading, I followed, and got a very long 

 shot over the sholah, but, I think, missed ; he fell as he 

 dashed into the jungle, but recovered himself, and went 

 in with a crash. I followed ; there was lots of blood 

 at first, but eventually we lost it, and the stag also, 

 though he must have been dead close by. Bother the 

 thing ! I hate losing a wounded animal ! In the after- 

 noon the Lascar and I went to the big sholah, near the 

 upper crags, after choosing a good position in among 

 some rocks, about 100 yards from the edge of the 

 jungle. About 6.30 a soft-horned stag came out and 

 began playing about ; I could have shot him easily, but 

 would not ; he came back jumping and kicking towards 

 me, and it was ludicrous to see how quickly he changed 

 his tune ; upon getting across my wind he wheeled 

 round like a shot, and scampered off to the skolah as if 

 ten thousand fiends were at his heels. I was rather 

 afraid this would alarm any other deer that might be 

 near the edge of the jungle, but was agreeably surprised 

 when I saw a small stag come browsing out just about 

 dusk. It was a horrid light, but covering him as well 

 as I could I fired ; the ball struck him, I think, for he 

 bounded forward into a small hollow between me and him. 

 I crept forward, half expecting to find him dead, but not 



