Sporting Trips of a Subaltern 



indeed deserve to see one. What was the good of 

 toiling for days over the hills if I couldn't hold 

 straight when imy chance came ? Hoping against 

 hope that I might get another glimpse of him, and 

 realizing that it would he an almost impossible 

 shot if I did, I watched the bushes moving as 

 he breasted the hill. But wait! The movement 

 had ceased. Could he be hit after all ? No, he 

 showed no signs of it. Crash ! By Jove ! I believe 

 he's down. Then crash ! crash ! crash ! crash ! 

 rolling down the hill, over and over he comes, 

 clear of the bushes now, and in full sight till he 

 reaches the bottom, and lies, a glorious sight, 

 damning the torrent below with his bulk. I 

 honestly do not think that anything can raise 

 one to such a pitch of elation as moments such 

 as this. I know by the time I had reached him 

 I had shouted myself absolutely hoarse. To my 

 astonishment, when I had scrambled nearly down, 



L suddenly appeared. " Where the dickens 



have you dropped from ? " I not unnaturally 

 called out ; and " / indeed," was the indignant 

 answer. " Why, I have been stalking this stag 

 for an hour, and had at last got within one 

 hundred! and fifty yards when you fired." So 

 it was, and he had gradually followed the stag 

 across my front, and it was for him the animal 



was looking when I first saw him, L , 



mindful of his previous mishap and my advice, 



28 



