316 THE BARA SING. 



" there he comes/' and truly, heralded by his huge antlers, 

 he topped the rise, and was at once immersed in the 

 bushes, his form too much concealed by boughs and foliage 

 to risk a shot. Soon he emerged, forcing his way, and 

 came on verily, a royal beast ! Once I aimed, but the 

 inequality of the ground removed him. Then he again 

 presented himself, almost fronting me. Now sped the 

 deadly bolt, and over rolled this forest monarch ; then, 

 throwing himself violently forward, he struggled down 

 the steep declivity, almost concealed in the high thick 

 fern. Sara fearlessly rushed upon the prostrate beast, 

 and assailed him in the rear, jumping about, and barking 

 frantically, and now and again taking a bite at the haunch. 

 The animal was quite safe ; but, lest he might go to the 

 bottom of the deep ravine, where his headlong struggles 

 were leading him, I scrambled after him, and delivered 

 three other shots, the last behind the neck, coming out 

 at the mouth. 



The butcher's work finished, we ascended towards our 

 bivouac, taking up a position whence an extensive view 

 of the hill- side was obtained. Other stags were still 

 audible, and suddenly Mooktoo started, and following his 

 eye we saw a stag which had come over from behind us, 

 out of the fir jungle which, covered that side of our 

 ridge. He did not see us, and passed downwards at a 

 quick walk, in the direction we had recently come from. 

 Of course, we were soon rapidly pursuing. The hill was 

 steep, and I leading had just gained the top of the slope, 

 when I was aware of the presence of the stag which, 

 having just caught a glimpse of me, was standing erect, 

 gazing at me. He had apparently just turned on his 

 tracks, and thus met us face to face. He had probably 

 been scared by the smell of blood. He was about two 

 hundred yards off, his chest towards me ; but unfortunately 



