190 The Hunting Grounds 



s 



within a hundred and twenty yards, when, from the 

 motion of the herd, I saw that my walking bush had 

 excited some suspicion, for they began to close up, and 

 crane their necks in my direction ; which movement was 

 immediately perceived and understood by their leader, 

 who sprang on his feet, stamped, and advanced some 

 five or six paces towards me, snuffing the air as if to 

 reconnoitre. This position offered me a fair shot I 

 raised my rifle and pulled the trigger just as a low 

 bark escaped him (the signal of alarm to the herd). 

 It was his last warning, for my grooved-bore was 

 true the bullet sped, and entered his heart; he 

 sprang high into the air and fell dead. I fired my 

 second barrel at the herd, which was in full retreat, 

 bringing down a doe, my ball entering the small ribs 

 near the spine, and "paralysing her hind-quarters ; 

 and, after drawing my knife across her throat, I 

 jumped on Gooty, who was brought up by my syce, 

 and followed the herd, driving it towards the spot 



where B and D were posted. Both got 



shots. B rolled over a young buck at a long 



distance ; and D bagged a doe, missing two 



other fair shots. 



We collected the game tied up in front of our sad- 

 dles, and then made the best of our way towards 

 Andior, where we found our tents pitched under the 

 shade of a beautiful mangoe tope, in front of which 

 was a large square tank, full of water-lilies, and an 



