444 THE EASTERN HUNTEES. 



his rifle, or other cause, again startled the herd, and 

 they resumed their flight as before, but at a greatly 

 reduced pace. As they neared Norman's position, 

 this had subsided into a walk, and already several 

 had stopped here and there to nibble at the grass 

 or the tender shoots of some bush. 



Quite unaware of the proximity of a new danger, 

 they soon steadily settled down to feed, continuing 

 in a line which brought them on Norman's flank, at 

 a distance of about a hundred yards. He selected 

 a good-looking buck, with a fair pair of horns, 

 which it every now and then tossed back with a 

 jerk, to drive off, with its points, some fly which 

 had settled on its black glossy coat. It was walking 

 steadily on, with that graceful and undulatory, but 

 sharp, decided motion, which suggests to the ob- 

 server how unpleasantly rough it would be to a 

 rider. 



Though several of the does had passed his place 

 of ambush, none had as yet discovered the lurking 

 enemy not easily to be discerned in the deep shade 

 of the tree. The movement of bringing up his rifle, 

 however, attracted their attention, and they turned 

 quickly to look. But it was too late. In the instant 

 of their first bound off, and before those in the rear 

 were aware of any fresh cause of danger, the rapid 

 aim had been taken, and the bullet sped on its way. 



