226 SHORT STALKS 



tliis, tlie depredator carried off in the night the whole 

 of the remaining venison in camp. The following day 

 Findlay secured another stag, a much smaller one, the 

 venison of which was placed for security in the centre of 

 the camp. The fox again returned at dusk, and was shot 

 dead by the camp fire, within five yards of us all ! 



Our host from the village below thought it a necessary 

 act of hospitality to come up and remain at our camp 

 during the whole time of our stay. Notwithstanding the 

 rain, which here came down in torrents for two nights, he 

 sat through it a picture of serene patience. His followers 

 were not so well ofi", especially his black servant, for there 

 was no room in the tents. Hearino; talkino; in the night, I 

 looked out, and saw this wretched neoro sittino- iu the 

 drenching rain, and carrying on a loud conversation with 

 himself to keep himself warm. 



The biff stao; was our crownino- success, and if we could 

 have spared more time we might have repeated it ; for, 

 tliough the forest was fairly dense, they were not so wary 

 as the ibex. At least I thought so then. As Bouba 

 said, " All animals are Sheitan (8atan), but these stags 

 are not rpute such Satans as those Satans of goats." 

 The fact was that these same " Satans" were the object 

 of my journey, and whereas up to that time we had 

 done scarcely anything with them, I was very unwilling 

 to return home beaten by a mere goat. We, therefore, 

 perhaps foolishly, left the red deer and sought out 

 the goats again. That my amour ^woiwe was saved 

 the followin<«' total bae^ will show. Seven ibex, two red 

 stags, one wild boar (a very fine beast killed in a cane- 

 brake on the plain). On our return to Smyrna, we found 



