etly along
for about half a mile, when we crossed an abrupt rocky promontory, which
stretched from the jungle into the lake like a ruined pier. On the
other side, the lake formed a small bay, shaded by the forest, which was
separated from the water's edge by a gentle slope of turf about fifty
yards in width. This bay was a sheltered spot, and as we crossed the
rocky promontory, the noise that we made over the loose stones in
turning the corner, disturbed a herd of six deer, five of whom dashed
into the jungle; the sixth stopped for a moment at the edge of the
forest to take a parting look at us. He was the buck of the herd, and
carried a noble pair of antlers; he was about a hundred and twenty yards
from us, and I took a quick shot at him with one of the No. 10 rifles.
The brushwood closed over him as he bounded into the jungle, but an
ominous crack sounded back from the ball, which made me think he was
hit. At this moment Palliser and V. Baker came running up, thinking that
we had found the elephant.

The buck was standing upon some snow-white quartz rocks when I fired,
and upon an examination of the spot frothy patches of blood showed
that he was struck through the lungs. Men are bloodthirsty animals, for
nothing can exceed the pleasure, after making a long shot, of finding
the blood-track on the spot when the animal is gone. We soon tracked him
up, and found him lying dead in the jungle within twenty yards of the
spot. This buck was the first head of game we had bagged, with the
exception of a young elk that I had shot on horseback during the ride
from Dambool. We had plenty of snipe, and, what with fish, wildfowl,
and venison, our breakfast began to assume an inviting character. After
breakfast we shot a few couple of snipe upon the plain, and in the
evening we formed two parties--Palliser and V. Baker, and Wortley
and myself--and taking different directions, we scoured the country,
agreeing to meet at the tent at dusk.

W. and I saw nothing beyond the fresh tracks of game which evidently
came out only at night. We wandered about till evening, and then
returned towards the tent. On the way I tried a long shot at a heron
with a rifle; he was standing at about a hundred and fifty yards from
us, and by great good luck I killed him.

On arrival at the tent we found P. and V. B., who had returned. They
had been more fortunate in their line of country, having found two rogue
elephants--one in thick jungle, which V. B.