ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 113 



We were shooting antelope near the village of Surla, and 

 were astonished to find the deer very shy and scared. 

 In the course of the day we came on several remains of 

 them, and the carcasses of two or three which had been but 

 recently killed. On inquiring from some cowherds, we were 

 informed that a panther had been seen, so we fixed an early 

 day to hunt him up. Water was scarce and bad, so we had 

 a few bottles placed in the luncheon basket, which amongst 

 other things contained a bottle of whisky and several bottles 

 of beer. On arriving at the village of Surla I had a nasty 

 feverish attack, and was too seedy to go out. My two com- 

 panions, however, went forth, with about forty beaters, and 

 hunted up a strip of swampy ground covered with grass ten 

 feet in height. The panther was soon started, and opened 

 the ball by charging back through the line of men, who made 

 way for him with great promptitude. The guns then moved 

 back and the line faced about, and this time succeeded in 

 driving the panther across an open space. Here he received 

 a shot which disabled one of his forelegs, but he reached 

 a patch of high grass, into which he disappeared. To follow 

 him now became a service of some danger, as the whole 

 party were on foot, and the panther, being wounded, was 

 certain to fight. Two or three parties, of four men each, were 

 placed in various directions, with orders to stand together 

 and endeavour to mark the beast down if he left the grass. 

 The remainder of the beaters were then formed into a wedge, 

 and with the two guns leading, and all the rest howling and 

 on their guard, with uplifted clubs, the word was given to 

 advance. The panther lay till his pursuers were within a 

 few yards, when he charged out, and was rolled over by a 

 well-directed fire. He was a very strong beast and very fat, 

 having evidently taken kindly to his venison. It was uni- 



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