OF THE OLD WORLD. 215 



course without relaxing his speed for a moment. 

 I tried to get a shot as he was bounding away, but 

 could not catch sight of him on account of inter- 

 vening bushes, when the old major, who was quietly 

 seated on his right heel, with his left knee thrown 

 well forward, and his left elbow resting upon it, 

 (the best position for steady shooting,) let fly right 

 and left ; and although I could not see the stag, 

 I knew from the double " thuds " I heard that both 

 shots had taken effect. " Hurrah ! he 's down, 

 boys i " vociferated the gallant old soldier, as he 

 sprang to his feet, and picked up his second rifle ; 

 but before he could raise it the stag had regained 

 his legs, and a slight undulation in the ground 

 prevented his getting another shot. " Bravo, ma- 

 jor ! " I exclaimed ; " you ' wiped the youngster's 

 eyes ' beautifully, and made a couple of excellent 

 shots, for both were over two hundred yards distant. 

 We will now loose Hassan and Ali, and I 'II warrant 

 you they will soon give a good account of the 

 quarry." I accordingly gave the necessary orders 

 to lay in the dogs, when just at the moment I heard a 

 crash in the jungle, and two young bucks with velvety 

 horns, and seven does, broke cover, followed by an 

 old she-bear. I brought down one of the bucks, 

 and three of the does fell before a combined volley, 

 whilst the bear received two or three gentle re- 

 minders of our presence that did anything but 

 increase her stock of good-humour, for she growled 

 most savagely, and made a serious charge at W 



