318 



THE BARA SING. 



Mooktoo is to track up to-morrow with the guide and 

 coolies ; Subhan and I, Kamal attending, to look for 

 fresh game. Subhan proposes going over the summit of 

 the mountain in the middle of the day. 



12th October. I was accoutring myself as day broke, 

 and the two parties started together, our path being the 

 same for some distance. We had not gone far ere 

 Subhan spied a stag far down below us, standing up. He 

 soon lay down, and there seemed a good chance of a 

 successful stalk ; but Subhan, the impetuous Subhan, 

 taking the lead, descended straight down the steep slope 

 towards the recumbent deer. I remonstrated at this 

 barefaced attempt on so wary an animal the wind was 

 also unfavourable but the wilful Subhan held on his 

 course, sliding on his back, as did I and Kamal. Soon 

 the stag showed signs of uneasiness, became restless, 

 looked around him, then rose, and finally stept grace- 

 fully and quietly from our view. When we reached his 

 ground, we found no clue to his retreat. Another was 

 heard in the jungle, bellowing loudly, his deep, hoarse 

 notes and powerful lungs bespeaking him a first-rate 

 stag. I had noticed his voice yesterday in the same spot. 

 Others were answering him. Thinking we might ascer- 

 tain the precise spot he harboured in, and then stalk him 

 through the jungle, we advanced on him, and lay down 

 to listen and watch : from which time he kept mute. 

 We remained thus about a couple of hours, and then 

 returned to bivouac to breakfast. 



Mooktoo came back, also unsuccessful. He had fol- 

 lowed the track right down to the river at the foot of the 

 mountain, where the thick shrubs and matted underwood 

 frustrated any further attempt. In this heavy thicket, 

 close to water, the stricken deer had doubtless taken 

 refuge to die. Oh ! for an Australian native, or a good 



