AN APTITUDE FOR PUGGING. 217 



liis friend's deficient knowledge in that important 

 branch of woodcraft. As for young Hawkes, he 

 eagerly took every opportunity of perfecting himself 

 in so desirable a part of his sporting education ; 

 indeed, he would criticise the pugs even of the dog.s 

 wandering among the tents, with the view of ascer- 

 taining if the impressions were two days, one day, 

 or only a few hours old. 



Mackenzie also returned with a good bag indeed 

 the heaviest of the three for he had killed a blue- 

 bull or neilghye, and a brace of samber. One of 

 the samber had given him a good deal of trouble to 

 kill. He had at first obtained a broadside shot at 

 about eighty yards, but hit rather far back. He 

 again, however, came up with it, but it took four 

 bullets before it was finally disposed of. The 

 other he had shot dead when running at full 

 gallop through the jungle. He was the more 

 fortunate, for, his feet being yet somewhat blistered, 

 he could not work very much, and was still in 

 slippers. 



They were all surprised at the quantity of game 

 about in the valley, down which all three had been 

 shooting, each having seen many more than he 

 killed ; and between them, also, several unsuccessful 

 shots had been fired. 



There was great rejoicing both in the little camp 



