SECURE A peacock's TAIL. 
6i 
across and settle on the bare branch of a high tree that rose 
out of the centre of a very tigerish looking ravine. It was a 
long shot, but I could not resist having a crack at it with 
the rifle, when to my surprise down it went to the bottom of 
the ravine like a falling comet, I hesitated at first to enter 
such a place, but after a minute or two decided on going 
down. The jungle became thicker and thicker^ I was at last 
obliged to crawl on my hands and knees ; I had got down 
some distance when I distinctly heard some animal stealthily 
moving ahead of me. Reader, have you ever felt the 
"creepy creepy?" It comes up the calves of the legs, into 
the back, plays round the throat with a choky gulpy sensation 
and finishes off on the top of the head. I felt it in full force 
when I heard that movement, and I paused and listened 
most intently. To retreat was more dangerous than to push 
on, so on I went. The jungle was rather more open 
when I got under the big tree, but for the life of me I could 
not find the peacock. Darkness was setting in and I 
was in despair, and just as I was on the point of giving 
it up, I spied the bird lying dead. 1 lost no time in docking 
him of his splendid tail and scrambled up out of the ugly 
ravine as quickly as I could, and a comfortable feeling of 
relief came over me when 1 found myself on safe ground 
again. 
I went out several mornings to look for deer, but the 
grass was so high that though mounted o]i ponies we could 
scarcely see above it I got one or two unsatisfactory shots, 
having to scramble off the pony and fire, the high grass and 
other things being against a correct aim ; how we like to 
make excuses when we fail to bagj as was often the case on 
these occasions. My greatest regret was losing a lovely 
