Deer-Stalking in Kashmir 277 



a hundred to one they would hear us on the 

 dry leaves. 



A whispered consultation between Eamzana 

 and his son resulted in the latter being de- 

 spatched up the hill to work round and move 

 them. After the best part of an hour or, at 

 any rate, a period that seemed like that up 

 went the beasts' heads, and they gazed fixedly 

 at the forest behind them, and then began moving 

 slowly our way, making as if they would cross 

 our ridge a couple of hundred yards or so above 

 us. So we, too, went up and prepared for their 

 reception. I got comfortable lying down, my 

 rifle by my side, and watched them coming 

 slowly along. If nothing should put them away 

 now I was certain of a shot. I had with me 

 two rifles, a double "500, the worth of which had 

 been proved in the jungles of Central India, 

 and a new Mannlicher which I was anxious to 

 try. The latter was a splendid shooting weapon, 

 that I knew, but its bullet looked so ridiculously 

 small that I had no hesitation in selecting the 

 old rifle for my first Kashmir stag. 



The beast came straight on. Two hundred 

 yards only separated us. Now it is a hundred 

 and fifty. Who has ever the patience to wait 

 long enough in such circumstances ? The stag 

 turns half broadside on, stands a moment and 



