of the Old World. 245 



hardly believe my eyes when I saw him drop, but the 

 credit of it, if any there be, must be given to old 

 Purdey, the maker of your rifle ; for never do I think 

 that grooved bore threw lead so true, and I now do 

 not wonder at your luck in bringing down the hatties 

 (elephants) right and left. It 's the gun, man ; it 's the 

 gun ! Look after the game, whilst I pace the distance 

 for my own satisfaction." 



This was done, and it proved to be five hundred 

 and forty-six paces, or, allowing for inequalities in the 

 ground, about four hundred yards. Whilst Chineah 

 was despatching with his knife the still struggling doe 



that B had wounded, and B had gone to 



gather up his game, I went to look after the sentinel, 

 which, to my surprise, was nowhere to be found, 

 although I saw him drop the moment I fired, appa- 

 rently lifeless. Whilst looking about, I crept on my 

 hands and knees towards the edge of the precipice, 

 and, lying my full length, looked over;, when, to my 

 astonishment, I saw the carcass on a narrow ledge of 

 rock jutting out of the scarped cleft about thirty feet 

 from the top. With the aid of my glass I could see 

 that it was a fine specimen with splendid horns, which 

 I determined coute qui coute should not be lost. 

 I scrambled carefully back, and explained the case to 

 B , who advised me to give it up as " lost game," 

 it not being worth while risking life for the sake 

 of a pair of horns ; but I did not like to return empty- 



