CHAPTER XVI 



WANDERINGS ABOUT LAKE MAELPEG AND MOUNT SYLVESTER 



During the following week four or five companies of deer 

 with their attendant stags were seen daily, but the last week 

 of the month signalised the close of the rutting season, and 

 partial abandonment of the does by the stags. In some 

 cases two or three master -stags could be seen with the 

 herds, and these, though still looking at each other with 

 jealous eyes, did not come to actual blows. One day at 

 the north-eastern end of Keskitpegawi, my favourite hunting- 

 ground, I saw three companies within half a mile of one 

 another, and as I was watching a good thirty-pointer, he 

 suddenly left his does and walked off in the direction of 

 another troop. I followed quickly, hoping to see a grand 

 battle, but was disappointed. The travelling stag com- 

 menced feeding as soon as he reached the fresh deer, and 

 the master-stag, a very big fellow with fine double brows, 

 took very little notice of him, except to give a few savage 

 grunts of disapproval. After careful consideration, I decided 

 to shoot this stag if I could get within shot. It proved 

 to be a somewhat difficult stalk, as it was snowing hard 

 and the does were scattered about in every direction on a 

 perfectly open savannah. The wind, however, was blowing 

 strong, and one can take liberties under such circumstances. 

 Accordingly Steve and I crept in swiftly through the middle of 

 the scattered does, and relied on their temporary confusion to 

 effect a rapid advance. Whilst doing so, the Indian suddenly 



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