of the Old World. 225 



fern close at band, that told us the stag was at bay. 

 When we came up we found him covered with blood 

 and foam, struggling desperately with the dogs, who 

 had seized him by the throat and held him fast. His 

 bloodshot eyes rolled savagely as we approached, and 

 he lowered his head as if to make a stroke at us with 

 his horns ; but he was weak from loss of blood, and 

 stumbled, which gave Chineah the opportunity of 

 drawing his knife across his throat, when he made a 

 feeble attempt to regain his knees, but staggered, 

 reeled, and fell, uttering a deep groan. A convulsive 

 tremor passed over his limbs, and all was still. 



As soon as the venison was broken up, and slung 

 upon poles, we mounted our nags and returned to 



Ooty, where we all met round Major S 's social 



board in the evening ; when, after the cloth was re- 

 moved, songs went round, and many animated recitals 

 of hair-breadth escapes and perilous encounters with 

 the grim monsters of the forest were related by the 

 old hands, which caused our sitting to last until a late 



hour. Just as we were about to separate, W 



happened to mention something about a cantonment 

 ball that was to take place shortly ; when our worthy 

 host, pricking up his ears, asked if any of us had 

 heard of the direful effects matrimony had upon 



Geordie S , a connection of his. " He was before 



your time, but no one who knew could ever forget 

 him, for a better or keener sportsman never breathed.. 



Q 



