20 The Hunting Grounds 



carcasses over with thorny bushes and stones, to 

 preserve them from the vultures, without which 

 precaution we should only have found the bones 

 when we returned with the coolies to carry away 

 the game ; and having refreshed the inner man with 

 a nip of "brandy panee," we reloaded our rifles and 

 tracked up the hart Walter had wounded, which, 

 from the size of the slots, appeared to be larger 

 than either of those we had killed. 



Here and there we found the ground dyed with 

 drops of blood, and where he rolled over when iny 

 bullet struck his horn there was a bright crimson 

 pool, which showed that he was hard hit. " He 

 cannot travel far, Hal, in that state," said Walter, 

 " so we will set the dog after him, and I do not 

 doubt but that he will soon bring him to bay. 

 Hey, Ponto! fetch him, boy." The intelligent 

 animal looked up in his master's face, as if he 

 could there read what was required of him, then 

 made a cast with his nose along the ground, until 

 he got scent of the wounded deer, when off he set 

 at speed. 



We followed at our best pace, and, after a sharp 

 run, had the gratification of hearing Ponto's deep 

 tongue echoing among the rocks. "Bravo, my 

 dog !" cried Walter ; "keep up, Hal, for five minutes 

 longer, for by that cry I know the stag is at bay." 

 We tore down the slope of the hill leading to the 



