e skimmed over the
surface of the ground, as if requiring no rest for its feet. The forest
appeared ahead. Should the deer once reach it and force its way
through, even the persevering cheetah would have a difficulty in
following. The poor deer, however, worn out with the long chase, and
overcome with fear at the indefatigable pursuit of its bloodthirsty foe,
leaped headforemost into a thicket, under the belief that it was the
commencement of the forest. Its branching horns were caught for a
moment, and before it could extricate them, the ferocious cheetah,
bounding forward, was upon it, and instantly seizing its neck, pulled it
to the ground.

The khan and his companions arrived just as the poor creature was at its
last gasp, turning up its beautiful eyes as if imploring mercy from its
persecutors. The huntsmen soon put it out of its agony, and it was
carried off by the bearers; while the panting cheetah allowed its keeper
quietly to slip the chain over its head and lead it away to its cage.

"Come, we must now show you the way we hunt with our stags," said the
khan.

Galloping on, they reached the spot where the trained stags, with their
keepers, had been waiting for them. Proceeding to another part of the
open forest, the party arrived at a spot towards which a band of beaters
had driven a herd of deer. Here the animals stood grazing, protected by
their watchful guardians, the most warlike and powerful of their males.
They could be seen in the far distance. The tame deer were now set at
liberty, and advanced at a gentle trot. The males in charge of the herd
immediately advanced to meet them. At first they seemed to doubt
whether the strange ones came as friends or foes. But the matter was
soon settled. The two parties were quickly engaged in a fierce contest,
the wild animals rushing forward with great fury, meeting the tame
ones--antlers to antlers, and heads to heads. The latter,
formidable-looking animals, stood generally on the defensive, each being
engaged with a wild adversary, not mimicking war, but fighting
desperately. As the hunting party advanced, the herd, catching sight of
them, took to flight, but the combatants were too furiously engaged to
observe the spectators of the fight. They saw before them only their
adversaries, and did not even remark the party of native huntsmen on
foot, who, stealing round to their rear, got between them and the
forest. Concealing themselves, they advance