THE INLAND SEA KE VISITED. 49 



species of Quadramana in Nipon, and, being well 

 known, I never troubled them. 



On one occasion in January — my favourite month 

 for shooting here — I took about half-a-dozen Japanese 

 beaters, and a lot of their pariah dogs ; and sending 

 them to beat a part of the thick fir woods, where a 

 warm, sunny aspect made it likely we should find deer, 

 struck away with my coxswain — who always accom- 

 panied me — for an opening on the other side of the cover. 

 We had hardly gone three hundred yards when a stag, 

 with his fine head thrown back, dashed past within 

 twelve yards. He had evidently been disturbed by 

 some early wood-cutter, and had accidentally crossed my 

 path. I never felt more sure of an animal in ray life, as 

 I pulled first one trigger, then the other, both barrels 

 loaded with slug, at his broadside ; and I could hardly 

 believe, on the smoke clearing away, that it was the 

 same animal I saw bounding along as if nothing what- 

 ever had happened. Such things wiU happen, however, 

 and after examining his track for a short distance, to 

 see if there were any spots of blood on the ground, 

 on we went. Slug is most uncertain ; sometimes 

 the charge goes just as you wish it, and is then 

 terribly effective, but, as often, there is no knowing 

 where the shot goes : it seems to spread all over the 



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