78 RAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



the other, who was kicking about on the grass. I am 

 not much of a judge of the weight of an animal, but I 

 should say that the stag could not have weighed less 

 than 5001b. The horns were as thick as my wrist at the 

 base, and splendidly tined. We set to work and cut off 

 the loin ribs of the doe, and wrapping the meat up in 

 hide, we reluctantly left the splendid head and antlers of 

 the stag behind us. After a deal of trouble we found 

 our steed, who had strayed half a mile or so, and got 

 back to camp dead tired out. Imagine our disgust to 

 find our cache had been completely gutted, and the 

 contents strewed about in every direction. Our flour 

 was about half gone, and all the sugar ; the coffee, mus- 

 tard, salt, blankets, and every mortal thing else was either 

 smashed to bits or " demorahsed ; ^^ in fact, the whole 

 place was wrecked. However, there was no help for it ; 

 we picked up the pieces and lit our fire, and made our- 

 selves as miserable as possible under the circumstances. 

 Luckily it did not rain, as of course it ought to have done 

 to make the thing complete, and we fortunately found 

 our tin billy, though severely dented, still coffee- 

 worthy. A good cup of coffee, with a strong dash of 

 old rye in it in lieu of sugar, is a wonderfuf enlivener j 

 and we actually laughed as we curled ourselves up in our 

 blankets, and planned a nice little evening reception 

 for our uninvited guest, Mr. Bruin, who, of course, had 

 given us this festive little surprise supper. '' Bet yer 

 boots we^U make it lively for the cuss to-morrer,'' quoth 

 the boy — about the only remark he made all the day, and 

 I admired him for it. 



I can^t say I passed a night of unalloyed peace, 

 as I was continually waking up with a start, dronm- 

 ing that Bruin had hold of me. As for the boy, he &;l-pt 



