2J2 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
of me, and turning to my left, galloped across my 
front. By the time I had dismounted and fired, he 
was about 150 yards distant ; but he fell almost 
immediately on his side, and although the body was 
invisible in the tall sage-bush (as I looked up hill), 
one antler stood high above the surface like the 
dead branch of an oak tree. 1 
Seven stags now broke from the ravine about 
200 yards in front, and most unfortunately took a 
line of retreat parallel with the gully directly up the 
hill; thus nothing but rumps were turned towards 
me. Confident in the power of the rifle, I put up 
the back-sight for 250 yards, and took a steady 
shot. I heard the bullet strike, and I saw the stag 
run suddenly to the left, and then struggle for a few 
yards towards the sky-line, where it disappeared. 
The remaining deer halted exactly upon the sky¬ 
line, as though undetermined as to the course they 
should pursue. Several turned round, and from a 
distance of about 300 yards regarded my horse and 
myself. I put up the 300 yards back-sight, and fired 
at the chest of the foremost stag. Again I heard 
the bullet strike, but they all vanished from the 
scene beyond the outline of the hill-top. 
Jem had now joined me, and I suggested that 
we should ride up the hill, but dismount before 
reaching the summit, as I fully expected to find the 
1 The antlers of this stag measured— 
From extreme point in curve to the burr, 5 9J inches. 
„ ,, ,, of backward bend of main antler to extreme 
point of longest front tine, 3 inches. 
Round the burr, 13 inches. 
