SHOOTING, ETC. 167 



although I tried all I could to quiet her and explain 

 my object, she would neither cease nor be in any way 

 pacified ; so that I gave it up as a bad job, and started up 

 one of the narrow branches of the valley that ran from 

 the main one. Here I was more fortunate in finding a 

 youth on the watch, who gladly accepted my proposal, 

 and I have no doubt he slept the remainder of the 

 night. Considering how the wind was, I took my 

 station somewhat lower down than where the watch- 

 hut was situated. 



I don't think I had waited half-an-hour when I 

 heard an animal passing down through the dry cover, 

 evidently making for a favourite exit, still further down 

 than where I stood. I could follow the creature per- 

 fectly, so still was the evening, and I heard it flounder 

 out on to the narrow grassy path which ran round the 

 edge of the rice. 



It must have been a boar, for I could hear the brute 

 sniffing the air quite distinctly. Presently back into 

 the cover he plunged, and I could then follow for a 

 long time the pattering and brushing of bushes as 

 he retreated. About fifteen minutes after this, another 

 animal passed down the cover, on the opposite side of 

 the valley, and about thirty yards from where I stood. 

 I again followed the beast down quite easily by ear, 



