A PLAN WHICH FAILS. 177 



It struck me that this gooral had been 

 brought for the young ones, and the track 

 formed by their passing for several days 

 backwards and forwards to it. However 

 the track, as well as a little space round the 

 entrance to the hole, was trodden down so 

 firm and hard, as to bear no trace of any 

 footprint, which might have confirmed the 

 conjecture. The only thing we could do, was 

 to strew some fine earth about the entrances 

 of all the most hkely-looking places before 

 leaving the spot. 



Next morning, provided "svith everything 

 requisite to pass two or three days on the 

 ground, and a crowbar to dig out the pups; 

 we arrived just in time to see two of the 

 dogs bring down and kill a gooral close 

 by, which they instantly abandoned, upon 

 catching a glimpse of our party. Our plan 

 of the preceding day had failed ; for although 

 one or two places where we had strewed 

 the earth, bore the marks of full-grown 

 animals, yet not one tiny footprint could 

 we find. 



