THE SAL FOEESTS. 383 



sparkling stream that here rurs through a valley, filled with 

 long grass cover, and bounded on either side by chains of 

 low hills, flat on the tops, and clothed with low tree jungle 

 and bamboos on their sides. We took separate lines, F. 

 going by the pathway, D. along the tops of the hills on 

 one side, while I beat along the river below on an elephant. 

 I had not gone far before I put up a large herd of s&mbar 

 in long grass, and, firing right and left, dropped one small 

 stag, and heavily wounded a very large fellow with splendid 

 antlers and as black as a buffalo. I got off, and tracked the 

 wounded animal for about three miles by his blood through 

 the long dewy grass, till I was as thoroughly wetted through 

 as if I had been wading in a tank, when, as the deer had 

 reached heavy bamboo cover, and seemed to be still strong, 

 I gave it up, and again made for the river. On the way 

 I came on a herd of red deer, grazing a,bout in an opening 

 in the low jungle, where a fine spring kept the grass beauti- 

 fully green. They saw me before I was within shot, however, 

 and retreated into grass cover. Waiting a little, I got on 

 the elephant, and proceeded to beat the long grass ; and, 

 after going about a quarter of a mile, started the herd, 

 which must have contained fully thirty individuals. They 

 dived into a deepish hollow, filled with low brushwood, in 

 front of me, and I waited on the edge for their appearance 

 on the far side. Presently they clattered up in single file, 

 stags and does intermixed, the last of all being a very large 

 dark red stag, with beautiful antlers that seemed almost to 

 overpower him as he slowly trotted up the rise. I had the 

 sight of the double rifle bearing full on his broad back, and 

 was just touching the trigger, when the man behind me 

 seized and detained my arm in a vice-like grasp. The 

 moment was lost, and I turned viciously on the culprit, 



