ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEETING. 271 



with my double gun, and supplied with a sufficiency of ball- 

 cartridges, should proceed along the seashore to the spot 

 where lay the first rhinoceros ; meanwhile, I and four other 

 men should work the jolly-boat up the creek to the same 

 place, or rather to that where we left the second beast, 

 partly on land and partly in water. I further desired that 

 whichever party first reached its destination should fire two 

 shots as a signal to the other ; adding, that as tigers might 

 be attracted by the carcase, caution should be used in ap- 

 proaching it. On this the tent-pitcher, recalling recent 

 experiences, moved an amendment to the effect that the 

 land party should, on reaching the second clearance, await 

 the signal from us before venturing into it ; and this being 

 warmly seconded, and appearing reasonable under all the 

 circumstances of the case, was finally adopted. 



We started about seven o'clock just as the flood set in, 

 well provided for the work to be done in the cutting up and 

 hacking way, even down to the cook's kitchen chopper, be- 

 sides poles and ropes in abundance ; and first putting on 

 shore the land party at the mouth of the creek, we in the 

 jolly-boat moved silently up it with the tide, in the expec- 

 tation of obtaining a shot at deer, if no nobler game presented 

 itself. My double smooth-bore being lent to the other party, 

 I took instead a double '500 Express by Henry, which I 

 kept in hand, the heavier rifles lying beside me ready for use. 

 Since the rowlocks in rowing made much noise, the boat was 

 poled up by two men, going fast on the strong flood, and I sat 

 well forward, rifle across my knees. After we had gone half- 

 a-mile, on turning an elbow of the creek, a stag and four 

 hinds came in view within easy range, standing in the midst 

 of bushes, which hid them up to the middle of their bodies, 

 and staring at the strange sight which roused their curiosity 

 more than alarm. The first barrel of the " Express " sent a 

 bullet with a soft thud into the shoulder of the stag, and 

 brought him down at once, and the second sent another 

 rattling into the woods after the hinds, which disappeared 

 like phantoms in their gloomy depths. Landing at once, we 



