242 The Hunting Grounds 



its character and became full of obstructions ; for we 

 had often to crawl along the smooth slabs of rocks on 

 our hands and knees, and sometimes were obliged to 

 take off our sambur-skin shoes (which were made 

 purposely with very light soles) in order to get a 

 better footing. The scenery was extremely wild, and 

 a solemn silence reigned around, which was only 

 broken at times by the deep grunt of some one of the 

 gang when he came to a scarped rock or gully more 

 difficult than the rest. On slopes here and there the 

 mountain's vegetation was spangled with dew-drops, 

 which sparkled like diamonds in the reflected rays of 

 the morning sun. 



After a severe fag we rested on a ledge of rock to 

 take breath, and, being from constant exercise in rather 

 better training than the rest, I pushed on a short 

 distance in order to reconnoitre the ground, which 

 seemed to be getting more and more difficult as we 

 ascended. Whilst so engaged I heard a slight rustle, 

 followed by a sound like the rolling of a pebble, and 

 to my surprise saw a fine buck-sambur rise from his 

 lair, just below the boulder of rock against which I 

 was leaning, and gaze majestically round with erected 

 head. I noiselessly took up my rifle, and, as he was 

 leisurely trotting along the side of the mountain, 

 brought the sight to bear just behind his massive 

 shoulder and fired. When the smoke cleared away 

 I saw him stretched lifeless on the ground, shot through 



