2 The Hunting Grounds 



step, adjutant's drill, &c.) in a weak moment after 

 dinner I obtained three days' division leave from 

 my colonel (a regular Tartar) who during the' 



temporary absence of General A n, was in 



command of the garrison, in order to accom- 

 pany my great chum, Walter M., in a sporting 

 expedition to the Jaghir of the Killadar 1 of the hill- 

 fort of Bhoonghir, which was about twenty miles 

 from our cantonments. 



Walter, who commanded the company to which 

 I was attached, had been my Mentor in all duty 

 matters from the day I first joined the regiment, 

 and he now undertook to initiate me in the mys- 

 teries of " Shekar," in all its branches, a task 

 which he of all others was well qualified to per- 

 form, being well known as the most fearless hunter 

 and unerring shot in a country pre-eminent for 

 the excellence of its sportsmen. 



Years have rolled since poor Walter went to 

 "that bourne from whence no traveller returns;" 

 and the kindest heart that ever warmed human 

 bosom has ceased to beat, for my friend sleeps his 

 last under the shade of a giant forest tree, and his 

 name is seldom called to mind, save when, at the 

 close of day, his old comrades assemble round the 

 social board and speak of " moving incidents by 

 flood and field ;" of hair-breadth " scapes," of 

 mighty feats and daring deeds, and an old hand 



1 Killadar, the governor of a fort. 



