204 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



He will sometimes, when cornered, run at a man with 

 a vicious snort, and is not at all timorous or easily removed 

 from his favourite ravine, which is usually a complete 

 thicket. When approaching such ground, one must 

 climb over rocks and into stony channels, all sloped at 

 a high angle, stooping under boughs, creeping between 

 stems, and keeping one's rifle ready. There are paths 

 worn by horny feet, and large round droppings. We 

 clamber down one ravine, I and the faithful Jugia. We 

 creep noiselessly, ears and eyes on the alert, round a 

 point into another gully, following the path leading up- 

 ward. The heat is intense, but there is shade and broad- 

 leaved foliage of trees and twining creepers. We hear 

 the sudden clatter of a beast coming towards us down 

 the ravine. We stand immovable, but all excitement 

 to know what is coming. Another rush and stones falling, 

 then silence. Just above us is an animal crouching nearly 

 to the ground, its strong legs straddled out as if ready for 

 a rush, its body half concealed among the branches. It 

 has ugly, sharp horns, and a sly, hostile expression in its 

 startled eye. Its black nose and shiny nostrils extended 

 motionless about lo yards above us, it seems about to 

 rush ; but the silver bead of my Westley-Richards bore on 

 its neck, and as it sprang forward the bullet sped — a 

 i6-bore with hollow tip — and crashed into the jugular. 

 We stepped aside to let it roU by head over heels, till 

 pulled up against a rock. I have several times seen the 

 serow in similar jungle ; but it is an animal not easy to 

 get, as it generally escapes unseen in the thicket with a 

 rush. 



On such climbs among the foot-hills one may come 

 across any sort of game, from tigers downwards. On 

 one occasion I passed unknowingly within about five 

 yards of a tiger which was lying in a cave. I got a 



