EARLY DAYS IN OUDH 45 
the softer sheaths between the nodes, and at once 
you see how easily one tiger, or indeed twenty, 
could crouch invisible in this scanty shelter—how 
the ringed spots of the panther or the dark stripes 
of the tiger would assimilate with their surround- 
ings ; and then, looking across the grey-green of the 
plain dotted with the earthen hillocks of the white 
ants, you realize how easily an enemy could approach 
from behind their shelter, and you understand why 
between each few bites the heads are raised with 
twitching ears and nostrils, and you are in sympathy 
with the constant alertness of the moving animals. 
They are far safer when they lie quiet in the forest 
and let movement and sound inform them of danger, 
as the sportsman will discover in practice when he 
himself is either the hunter or the hunted. 
Meanwhile the herd is increasing its distance, 
carrying with it the young males, and perhaps a few 
almost mature stags, but none with heads that make 
the blood tingle with the lust of possession, till sud- 
denly at a distance more horns moving within the 
forest become visible. Very cautiously they ap- 
proach, and two or more stags stand alone on the 
plain; their animosities are forgotten in this 
strenuous moment when they feel exposed to un- 
known enemies, or perhaps the series of duels, 
common in the springtime with these deer, are over, 
and an armed truce prevails amongst the leaders of 
the herd. Slowly they walk forward, and now, if 
you wish to destroy the harmony of the scene and 
put terror into a hundred innocent hearts, the time 
has arrived; for unless you fire, and that quickly, 
they will lightly gallop after the retreating herd, to 
