THE SAMBER KILLED. 63 



from that circumstance. Internal bleeding, he 

 knew, was usually indicative of a more dangerous 

 wound than one with copious external effusion, 

 and he was perfectly satisfied the beast had been 

 hard hit. 



The track took them right up to the thicket, as 

 anticipated ; Norman with cocked rifle leading the 

 way. As they approached it, the samber, who was 

 lying down, just within its skirts, jumped up, but 

 only to fall to the bullet which greeted his appear- 

 ance. 



It proved to be a large stag, but not carrying so 

 fine a head as it would have done some months 

 later. The horns are not nearly so handsome as 

 those of the red deer, being only three tyned ; but 

 still, when in maturity, are fine sylvan trophies. 



The first bullet, it was found, had passed between 

 the ribs and lodged in the chest, whence it was 

 afterwards extracted. 



In anticipation of a good supper of meat that 

 evening, the villager was enthusiastic in his admira- 

 tion, both of the beast and of the shot which had 

 laid him low. But, while bestowing his encomiums 

 on Norman's abilities, he was not forgetful of 

 his own surpassing merits as a shikaree, or his 

 intimate acquaintance with the haunts of the forest 

 game. 



