But the quarry here suddenly altered its tactics. Possibly suspecting
danger in front, it turned suddenly, and doubling, shot down the steep
slope at lightning speed, and at right angles to its former course.
There rang out a heavy report at some little distance behind. The buck
leaped high in the air, then, turning a couple of somersaults, rolled a
score of yards farther, and lay stone dead.

"By Jove, Musgrave, but you can shoot!" cried Suffield, as they met over
the quarry. "Three to four hundred yards, and going like an express
train. _Allamaagtag_! I grudge you that shot."

"He's yours, anyhow. First blood, you know."

They examined the animal. Roden's ball had drilled clean through the
centre of the heart, but the first wound would have sickened anything
less tenacious of life. The bullet had struck far back in the flank,
passing through the animal's body. Leaving the after-rider to perform
the necessary rites and load up the buck upon his horse, together with
the first one, which was already there, they moved up to a snug corner
under the rocks for lunch.

"We haven't done badly so far," quoth Suffield, with a sandwich in one
hand and a flask in the other.

"We must get one more," said Roden, "or rather, you must. That'll
exactly `tie' the shoot; one and a half apiece."

"Well, and have I been so dreadfully in the way, Mr Musgrave?" said
Mona.

"I am not aware that I ever predicted that contingency, Miss Ridsdale."

"Not in words, perhaps; but you looked so glum when I announced my
intention of coming, that, like the pack of cards instead of the
Testament in the wicked conscript's pocket, which turned the fatal
bullet, it did just as well."

"Did I? If so, it was inadvertently. But I daresay my conscience was
pricking me in advance over that baboon I was destined to murder. That
might account for it."

The fact was that, however dubious had been his reception of the said
announcement, Roden was in his heart of hearts conscious that the
speaker's presence with them that day, so far from being a drawback, had
constituted rather an attraction than otherwise. Indeed, he was
surprised to find how much so. When Mona Ridsdale chose to lay herself
out to make the most of herself, she did not do it by halves. A good
horsewoman, she looked splendidly well in the saddle, the well-fitting
riding habit setting off the curves and proportions of her magnificent
figure to every advantage. Moreove