MILITARY AD VENTURES. 223 



shot at a covey of partridge which rose 

 as I got near, and I had the satisfaction 

 of seeing a brace and a half picked up. 

 There were great grunts of approbation 

 from the coolies at witnessing our first 

 success, and they seemed to step out more 

 lightly when they saw that one of the 

 party could kill. 



We now descended a steep hill, but the 

 carriers took off their loads, and sat down 

 to watch us beat up the valley with as 

 keen an interest as English beaters would 

 have displayed. The first thing that 

 showed itself was a splendid cheetah ; he 

 got up in front of Smith, who had two 

 bangs at him, but he went off apparently 

 untouched. I thought it was rather lucky 

 for Smith that he did not hit, for the 

 cheetah would have turned on him, in all 

 probability, and given him a severe mang- 



