XXIII SEARCHING FOR STAGS 415 



answered admirably. It was delightful sitting in the 

 warm sunshine and looking at the landscape below me, 

 bounded by the long line of snow that separates Kashmir 

 from the plains of India. 



About 3 P.M. we started downwards. In one patch of 

 woodland we heard a stag- movino-, and waited for some 

 time to see if he would come out. After a while we 

 caught sight of him, but finding he was only a six-pointer, 

 went on. Later on we saw several hinds and a few 

 small stags, as well as one ten-pointer. The last was 

 shootable ; but I did not want to fire at a ten -pointer 

 until I had seen whether a twelve-pointer could not be 

 obtained. By dusk we reached the camp. 



My tent was pitched in a spot very like England in 

 its surroundings. In front a low quick hedge separated 

 the patch of grass on which the tent stood from a field 

 of growing winter wheat. To the left was a green lane 

 winding between two hedgerows, and all about fine trees 

 were dotted. It was beginning to get cold, but not un- 

 pleasantly so, and after a wash I got into bed, as usual, 

 and called for dinner. 



On the 3rd we went up by the northern edge of the 

 Reserve to the crest again, and when we got there sat 

 down for the day. With books and papers and writing 

 the time passed rapidly, and in the afternoon we turned 

 downwards, looking for game. A black bear was seen, 

 but he disappeared in a wood before we could get near 

 him. No deer were sighted on the way back. 



The next day was also a blank. We went up the 

 centre ridge, and came within 100 yards of an eight- 

 pointer, which, on seeing us, hastened away in a 



