air when I observed a fine large buck at
about half a mile distance, cantering easily toward us across an
extensive flat of table-land. This surface was a fine sward, on the
same level with the point upon which we sat, but separated from us by
two small wooded ravines, with a strip of patina between them. I at
once surmised that this was the hunted elk, although, as yet, no hounds
were visible.

On arrival at the first ravine we immediately descended, and shortly
after he reappeared on the small patina between the two ravines, within
three hundred yards of us. Here the strong gale gave him our scent. It
was a beautiful sight to see him halt in an instant, snuff the warning
breeze and, drawing up to his full height, and wind the enemy before
him.

Just at this moment I heard old "Bluebeard's" deep note swelling in the
distance, and I saw him leading across the table-land as true as gold
upon the track; "Ploughboy" and "Gaylass" were both with him but they
were running mute.

The buck heard the hounds as well as we did, and I was afraid that the
whole pack would also catch the sound, and by hurrying toward it, would
head the elk him from his course. Up to the present time and turn they
had not observed him.

Still the buck stood in an attitude of acute suspense. He winded an
enemy before him and he heard another behind, which was rapidly closing
up, and, as though doubting his own power of scent, he gave preference
to that of hearing, and gallantly continued his course and entered the
second ravine just beneath our feet.

I immediately jumped up, and, exciting the hounds in a subdued voice, I
waved my cap at the spot, and directed a native to run at full speed to
the jungle to endeavor to meet the elk, as I knew the hounds would then
follow him. This they did; and they all entered the jungle with the
man except the three greyhounds, "Lucifer," "Bran" and "Hecate," who
remained with me.

A short time passed in breathless suspense, during which the voices of
the three following hounds rapidly approached as they steadily
persevered in the long chase; when suddenly, as I had expected, the
main body of the pack met the elk in the strip of jungle.

Joyful must have been the burst of music to the ears of old "Bluebeard"
after his long run. Out crashed the buck upon the patinas near the
spot where the pack had entered, and away he went over the grassy hills
at a pace which soon left the hounds behind. The greyhoun