388 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



breed and the Scotch deerhound, in the hope of getting them 

 a run at a wounded red deer, as they were as yet guiltless of 

 blood. Their mother, and the bull mastiff " Tinker," of wolf 

 renown, accompanied to help them in the kill. A couple 

 of lithe blacks, and nearly naked Bygas, with their war- 

 axes, guided the party. We wandered a good many miles 

 in the early afternoon without coming on game, but I, at 

 least, was gratified by the delightful park-like scenery. About 

 four o'clock, by the- advice of the Bygas, we sat down on a 

 little eminence crowned by a clump of sal trees, to watch for 

 deer coming out to drink or feed. Very soon a good-sized 

 herd suddenly appeared in the middle of a long flat stretch of 

 grass-land beyond the river ; and after stretching themselves, 

 and enjoying a game at romps, commenced feeding pretty 

 quickly down towards the banks of the river. We at once 

 retreated over the bank of our knoll ; and, getting into a 

 hollow protected by a fringe of bushes, crept up to the banks 

 and again reconnoitred. They were quite unsuspicious, the 

 wind being highly favourable ; and they seemed likely to come 

 and drink in our very faces. When within a few hundred 

 yards, however, they halted a long time behind a little rising 

 ground. I was in agony lest the dogs should make us known, 

 as they were dreadfully excited by the restraint of the stalks, 

 and seemed to know perfectly well that there was something 

 to hunt at hand. Presently a single hind topped the rise, and 

 for full five minutes stood sniffing round in all directions, her 

 great ears cocked in aid of her sense of smell. At last she 

 seemed to be satisfied, and moved slowly forwards, now 

 pausing to crop a mouthful of grass, and then again starting 

 and looking about as if she had heard or smelt something. 

 A stag now walked up past her, and without the least pre- 

 caution came boldly on to the water, which he entered about 



