A BUSINESS DAY AT CI1EE-HA. 209 



Before I touched the ground, he broke away from 

 the dog and pushed for the river. I raised my gun, 

 but the dog was so close at his heels that I could 

 not fire without killing both. As he mounted the 

 parapet, an interval of a few feet was gained; I 

 fired, and the deer rolled over the mound into the 

 river ! At this moment a horseman arrived. It was 

 Eobin. 



" Lay hold of his horns, Kobin they are within 

 reach of the shore." Robin stooped, but the deer, 

 not quite dead, gave a kick which propelled him a 

 yard from the shore. " Here is a rail, pass it over 

 him and draw him to you." The rail broke short 

 in his hand, and the dogs, now drawn to the spot by 

 the uproar, plunged in, seized the deer by the ears, 

 and instead of landing him, dragged him further 

 and further into the river. 



"In with you, Eobin," said I, "or he's lost. 

 There's not an instant to spare ; in with you !" 



" My Got, Maussa ! dem dog tek me for deer and 

 drown me." 



" Drown you, you prince of fools ! they know an 

 ass from a deer." 



" Anty de ribber deep, maussa?" 



" Deep ! was ever man cursed with so cowardly 

 a driver ? I'll in myself, and bring him ashore ;'' 

 I kicked off my boots, unbuckled my stock, 



