216 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



and K , who could only give leg-bail, as their 



rifles were empty. Luckily the dogs caught sight 

 of her, and Hassan seized her by the hind-leg, 

 which brought her up, and g^ve Ali the oppor- 

 tunity of pinning her by the ear on the opposite 

 side. Both were immensely powerful dogs, (a cross 

 between the bloodhound and polygar,) and poor 

 Bruin stood no chance of doing mischief, although 

 she seemed most maliciously inclined. As soon as I 



came up I called off the dogs, and B gave her 



a coup de grace behind the ear. The beaters and 

 the major's pack now made their appearance ; and 

 after the dogs had been collected, I laid Ali and 

 Hassan on the trail of the stag that had been 

 wounded by the major. Large drops of blood 

 marked his course ; and as we were following it 

 up a loud deep bellow in a patch of high fern 

 close at hand told us that the stag was at bay. 

 When we came up we found him covered with 

 blood and foam, struggling desperately with the 

 dogs, who had seized him by the throat and held 

 him fast. His bloodshot eyes rolled savagely as we 

 approached, and he lowered his head as if to make 

 a stroke at us with his horns ; but he was weak 

 from loss of blood, and stumbled, which gave 

 Chineah the opportunity of drawing his knife across 

 his throat, when he made a feeble attempt to re- 

 gain his knees, but staggered, reeled, and fell, utter- 

 ing a deep groan. A convulsive tremour passed 

 over his limbs, and all was still. 



