80 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



before he could pick himself up. He was a very fine 

 specimen, with a long, flowing mane. The two cows 

 broke through the line of beaters and escaped, though 

 one of them appeared severely wounded by a volley 

 from 'the beaters. A young cheetah was killed by 

 the dhoby, as he attempted to sneak away through 

 the bushes. 



We had now driven the game into a large patch 

 of jungle running along the river, on one side of 

 which was a piece of tolerably open ground, and here 

 we posted ourselves behind trees or rocks, in the 

 most favourable places when the game broke. I also 

 formed a second chain of men armed with muskets 

 and matchlocks, as I knew that an immense quantity 

 of game had been driven into that patch of jungle, 

 and that some of it might escape our first line of 

 guns. 



When we were all ready I gave the signal, and 

 the beaters began to drive the game towards us. 

 Sounders of pig and herds of elk and spotted deer 

 burst several times to the edge of the jungle, but 

 always broke back again, as if they dreaded danger 

 in the open ground and feared to cross it. 



At last a sturdy bear showed the way into the 

 plain, and was rolled over by Mac with a single ball. 

 Soon afterwards a herd of sambur (elk) and a sounder 

 of hog broke ; and a fine buck, two does, and a sow 

 bit the dust from the united volley poured in from 

 all sides. 



Then two cheetahs came bounding into the plain 



