Giving my rifle to the gun-bearer, I took the double-barrelled gun which he carried, and walked quickly towards breakfast.

Suddenly I heard a crash in a small nook of thick bushes, like the rush of an elephant, and the next instant a buck came rushing by in full speed; his long antlers lay upon his back as he flew through the tangled saplings with a force that seemed to defy resistance.

He was the largest spotted buck that I ever saw, and, being within thirty paces, I took a flying shot with the right-hand barrel.

He faltered for a moment, and I immediately fired the remaining barrel.

Still he continued his course, but at a reduced speed and dead lame.